Isaiah 57

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Isaiah 57 opens by observing that righteous and devout people perish, entering into peace and rest in death while others fail to understand. The narrative then addresses the rebellious offspring of sorceress and adulterers, condemning their idolatrous practices, child sacrifice in valleys, and worship under luxuriant trees and on high hills. The text describes their journey to Molech, their reliance on foreign alliances and idols, and the Lord's declaration that these idols will be swept away by the wind. Afterward, a command is given to prepare the way and remove obstacles for God's people, and the high and holy One states that He dwells with the humble and will heal those who strayed. Finally, the chapter contrasts the promised healing and peace for the repentant with the restless, troubled state of the wicked, who find no peace.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous are taken away from the presence of evil. ²Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death. ³“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! ⁴Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit, ⁵who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? ⁶Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these? ⁷On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices. ⁸Behind the door and doorpost you have set up your memorial. Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed; you climbed up and opened it wide. And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved; you have gazed upon their nakedness. ⁹You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself. ¹⁰You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak. ¹¹Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? ¹²I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you. ¹³When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.” ¹⁴And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.” ¹⁵For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. ¹⁶For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me— the breath of life I have made. ¹⁷I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept turning back to the desires of his heart. ¹⁸I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, ¹⁹bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.” ²⁰But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. ²¹“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.