Isaiah 57:1-21.
Isaiah 57:1-21
1Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die,
no calamity can hurt them. 2Those who live good lives find peace and rest
in death. 3Come here to be judged, you sinners! You are no better than
sorcerers, adulterers, and prostitutes. 4Who are you making fun of Who are
you liars jeering at? 5You worship the fertility gods by having sex under
those sacred trees of yours. You offer your children as sacrifices in the
rocky caves near stream beds. 6You take smooth stones from there and
worship them as gods. You pour out wine as offerings to them and bring
them grain offerings. Do you think I am pleased with all this? 7You go to
the high mountains to offer sacrifices and have sex. 8You set up your
obscene idols just inside your front doors. You forsake me; you take off
your clothes and climb in your large beds with your lovers, whom you pay
to sleep with you. And there you satisfy your lust. 9You put on your
perfumes and ointments and go to worship the god Molech. To find gods to
worship, you send messengers far and wide, even to the world of the dead.
10You wear yourselves out looking for other gods, but you never give up.
You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow
weak. 11The LORD says, Who are these gods that make you afraid, so that
you tell me lies and forget me completely? Have you stopped honoring me
because I have kept silent for so long? 12You think that what you do is
right, but I will expose your conduct, and your idols will not be able to
help you. 13When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A
puff of wind will carry them off But those who trust in me will live in
the land and will worship me in my Temple. 14The LORD says, Let my people
return to me. Remove every obstacle from their path! Build the road and
make it ready! 15I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in
a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and
repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope. 16I gave my
people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them
forever. 17I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I
punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going
their own way. 18I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will
lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn. 19I offer
peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people. 20But evil people
are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing
filth and muck. 21There is no safety for sinners, says the LORD.
God bless you.
1Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die,
no calamity can hurt them. 2Those who live good lives find peace and rest
in death. 3Come here to be judged, you sinners! You are no better than
sorcerers, adulterers, and prostitutes. 4Who are you making fun of Who are
you liars jeering at? 5You worship the fertility gods by having sex under
those sacred trees of yours. You offer your children as sacrifices in the
rocky caves near stream beds. 6You take smooth stones from there and
worship them as gods. You pour out wine as offerings to them and bring
them grain offerings. Do you think I am pleased with all this? 7You go to
the high mountains to offer sacrifices and have sex. 8You set up your
obscene idols just inside your front doors. You forsake me; you take off
your clothes and climb in your large beds with your lovers, whom you pay
to sleep with you. And there you satisfy your lust. 9You put on your
perfumes and ointments and go to worship the god Molech. To find gods to
worship, you send messengers far and wide, even to the world of the dead.
10You wear yourselves out looking for other gods, but you never give up.
You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow
weak. 11The LORD says, Who are these gods that make you afraid, so that
you tell me lies and forget me completely? Have you stopped honoring me
because I have kept silent for so long? 12You think that what you do is
right, but I will expose your conduct, and your idols will not be able to
help you. 13When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A
puff of wind will carry them off But those who trust in me will live in
the land and will worship me in my Temple. 14The LORD says, Let my people
return to me. Remove every obstacle from their path! Build the road and
make it ready! 15I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in
a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and
repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope. 16I gave my
people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them
forever. 17I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I
punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going
their own way. 18I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will
lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn. 19I offer
peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people. 20But evil people
are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing
filth and muck. 21There is no safety for sinners, says the LORD.
God bless you.
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