Isaiah 57

1 The righteous [just, upright, having God’s nature] perish, and no one [man, individual, person] takes it to heart [considers, ponders, reflects]; devout men [merciful, kind, faithful] are swept away [taken, gathered, removed], while no one considers [understands, discerns, realizes] that the righteous [just, innocent, blameless] are guided [protected, delivered, preserved] from the presence [face, sight, midst] of evil [bad, wicked, harmful]. word study 2 Those who walk uprightly [in moral integrity] enter into [complete wellness, spiritual harmony] peace; they find [spiritual refreshment, rest for their souls] rest, lying down [to sleep, in death’s slumber] in death. word study 3 “But come here [draw near, approach], you sons [descendants, offspring] of a sorceress [one who practices magic, divination], you offspring [seed, descendants] of adulterers [those who commit adultery, are unfaithful] and prostitutes [those who fornicate, are immoral, harlots]! word study 4 Whom are you mocking [making fun of, ridiculing]? At whom do you snarl [sport yourselves, make a wide mouth] and stick out your tongue [in scorn, to insult]? Are you not children [youth, offspring] of transgression [rebellion, disobedience], offspring [seed, descendants] of deceit [falsehood, lies], word study 5 who burn [inflame yourselves, with evil desire] with lust [passionate longing] among the oaks, under every [green] luxuriant tree, who slaughter [kill, slay] your children [youth, young ones] in the valleys [brooks, streams], under the clefts [cracks, rocky peaks] of the rocks [crags, cliffs]? word study 6 Your portion [inheritance, allotted share] is among the smooth [flat, even] stones of the valley [brook, small river]; indeed, they [these specific ones] are your lot [allotted part, destiny]. Even to them you have poured out [shed, spilled] a drink offering [libation, ceremonial pour] and offered a grain offering [sacrifice, gift]. Should I relent [be sorry, comforted] because of these [specific actions, idols]? word study 7 On a high [lofty, elevated] and lofty hill [mountain] you have made your bed [place of rest, intimate relationships], and there [in that location, at that time] you went up [ascended, rose] to offer [slaughter, give as a gift] sacrifices [acts of worship, atonement]. word study 8 Behind the door [and the posts, secret places] and doorpost [the vertical post on either side of a door, a prominent feature of a house] you have set up your memorial [a reminder, something that helps people remember important events or people]. Forsaking Me [deserting, abandoning], you uncovered [revealed, exposed] your bed [a place of intimacy]; you climbed up [ascended, went up] and opened it wide [enlarged, made spacious]. And you have made a pact [covenant, agreement] with those whose bed [place of intimacy] you have loved [been fond of, had affection for]; you have gazed upon [seen, looked at] their nakedness [exposed state, vulnerability]. word study 9 You went to Molech [the king, a pagan deity] with oil [olive oil] and multiplied [increased, grew] your perfumes [fragrant scented substances]. You have sent your envoys [messengers, ambassadors] a great distance [far off, to distant places]; you have descended [humbled, debased] even to Sheol [the underworld, the grave, a place of no return] itself. word study 10 You are wearied [exhausted, tired] by your many journeys [lengthy paths, ways of life], but you did not say, “There is no hope [despair, no chance of recovery]!” You found [discovered, attained] renewal [quickening, new strength] of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak [become faint, lose energy]. word study 11 Whom have you dreaded [feared, been anxious about] and feared [stood in awe of, revered], so that you lied [deceived, were dishonest] and failed to remember [recall, mark] Me [the one true God] or take this to heart [consider, ponder deeply]? Is it not because I have long been silent [held My peace, been still] that you do not fear [revere, stand in awe of] Me [the Almighty]? word study 12 I [the Lord] will expose [declare, make known] your righteousness [virtue, justice] and your works [deeds, actions], and they will not profit [benefit, be valuable] you. word study 13 When you cry out [in distress, loudly], let your companies [gatherings, collections] of idols deliver you [rescue, save]! Yet the wind [a blast of air] will carry off all of them, a breath [gentle breeze, vanity] will take them away. But he who seeks refuge [trusts, flees to] in Me will inherit [possess, take ownership of] the land [earth, territory] and possess [occupy, have control of] My holy [set-apart, sacred] mountain [hill].” word study 14 And it will be said, “Build it up [make a highway, exalt], build it up [raise up], prepare the way [clear the path, remove obstacles], take every obstacle [stumbling block, hindrance] out of the way of My people [nation, those I have chosen].” word study 15 For thus says the One who is [exalted and lofty] high and lifted up, who inhabits [lives in, dwells in] eternity, whose name is [set apart, sacred] Holy: “I dwell in a high and [sacred, set apart] holy place, and with the [crushed, oppressed] oppressed and humble [lowly] in spirit, to restore the [breath of life, inner being] spirit of the lowly [humble] and revive the [inner self, emotions] heart of the contrite [broken]. word study 16 For I will not accuse [contend or strive] you forever [to the age, always], nor will I always [perpetually, without end] be angry [wroth, furious]; for then the spirit [breath of life, the wind] of man would grow weak [faint, turn aside] before Me, with the breath [spirit, soul] of those I have made [created, brought into existence]. word study 17 I was enraged [intensely angry, furious] by his sinful [morally evil, wicked] greed [covetousness, unjust gain], so I struck [smote, punished] him and hid [concealed, turned away] My face in anger [wrath, fierce displeasure]; yet he kept turning back [walking in rebellion, backsliding] to the desires [longings, cravings] of his heart [inner being, spirit]. word study 18 I have seen [observed, looked after] his ways [path, manner of life], but I will heal [mend, cure] him; I will guide [lead, direct] him and restore [bring back, complete] comfort [solace, consolation] to him and his mourners [those lamenting, in sorrow], word study 19 bringing praise [thanksgiving, worship] to their lips [the edge of the mouth, language]. Peace, peace [shalom, completeness, wellness] to those far [distant, physically or spiritually] and near [close, in place or relationship],” says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “and I will heal [mend, cure, restore] them [completely, physically and emotionally].” word study 20 But the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] are like the storm-tossed [troubled, raging] sea, for it cannot be still [at peace, quiet], and its waves churn up mire [muddy water, filth] and muck [dirt, clay]. word study 21 “There is no [absence of, nothing but turmoil] peace [shalom, completeness and wellness],” says my [supreme] God [Elohim], “for the [morally wrong, guilty of sin] wicked [those who are evil].” word study