Jesaja 57,12 | New International Reader’s Version

1 Those who are right with God die. And no one really cares about it. People who are faithful to the LORD are swept away by trouble. And no one understands why that happens to those who do what is right. 2 Those who lead honest lives will enjoy peace and rest when they die. 3 The LORD says, ‘Come here, you children of women who practise evil magic! You are children of prostitutes and those who commit adultery. 4 Who are you making fun of? Who are you laughing at? Who are you sticking your tongue out at? You are people who refuse to obey me. You are just a bunch of liars! 5 You burn with sinful desire among the oak trees. You worship your gods under every green tree. You sacrifice your children in the valleys. You also do it under the cliffs. 6 You have chosen some of the smooth stones in the valleys to be your gods. You have joined yourselves to them. You have even poured out drink offerings to them. You have given grain offerings to them. So why should I take pity on you? 7 You have made your bed on a very high hill. You went up there to offer your sacrifices. 8 You have set up statues to remind you of your gods. You have put them behind your doors and doorposts. You deserted me. You invited other lovers into your bed. You climbed into it and welcomed them. You made a deal with them. And you looked with desire at their naked bodies. 9 You took olive oil to the god named Molek. You took a lot of perfume along with you. You sent your messengers to places far away. You even sent them down to the place of the dead. 10 You wore yourself out with all your efforts. But you would not say, “It’s hopeless.” You received new strength. So you did not give up. 11 ‘Who are you so afraid of that you have not been faithful to me? You have not remembered me. What you do doesn’t even bother you. I have not punished you for a long time. That is why you are not afraid of me. 12 You have not done what is right or good. I will let everyone know about it. And that will not be of any benefit to you. 13 Go ahead and cry out for help to all the statues of your gods. See if they can save you! The wind will carry them off. Just a puff of air will blow them away. But anyone who comes to me for safety will receive the land. They will possess my holy mountain of Zion.’

The Lord comforts people who are sorry for their sins

14 A messenger says, ‘Build up the road! Build it up! Get it ready! Remove anything that would keep my people from coming back.’ 15 The God who is highly honoured lives for ever. His name is holy. He says, ‘I live in a high and holy place. But I also live with anyone who turns away from their sins. I live with anyone who is not proud. I give new life to them. I give it to anyone who turns away from their sins. 16 I will not find fault with my people for ever. I will not always be angry with them. If I were, I would cause their spirits to grow weak. The people I created would faint away. 17 I was very angry with them. They always longed for more and more of everything. So I punished them for that sin. I turned my face away from them because I was angry. But they kept on wanting their own way. 18 I have seen what they have done. But I will heal them. I will guide them. I will give those who mourn in Israel the comfort they had before. 19 Then they will praise me. I will give perfect peace to those who are far away and those who are near. And I will heal them,’ says the LORD. 20 But those who are evil are like the rolling sea. It never rests. Its waves toss up mud and sand. 21 ‘There is no peace for those who are evil,’ says my God.

English Standard Version

Israel’s Futile Idolatry

1 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; 2 he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. 3 But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman. 4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit, 5 you who burn with lust among the oaks,* under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? 6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things? 7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.* 9 You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol. 10 You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, “It is hopeless”; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.* 11 Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me? 12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you. 13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. 17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Jesaja 57,12 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

The Lord comforts people who are sorry for their sins

Israel’s Futile Idolatry

Comfort for the Contrite