Isaiah 57

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 57

1¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

2He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightness.

3¶ But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

4Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, [and] draw out the tongue? [are] ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

5Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?

6Among the smooth [stones] of the stream [is] thy portion; they, they [are] thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

7Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

8Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest [it].

9And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell.

10Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; [yet] saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.

11And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

12I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

13¶ When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take [them]: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

14And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made.

17¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

18I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

19I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to [him that is] far off, and to [him that is] near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

20But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21[There is] no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 57 contrasts the peaceful rest of the righteous, who are taken away from impending evil, with the severe condemnation of the wicked. The wicked are denounced for their rampant idolatry, child sacrifice, and unfaithfulness to God, despite His long-suffering. While their false gods and alliances will fail them, God promises to revive the humble and contrite, offering peace and healing. However, the chapter concludes by affirming that there is no peace for the wicked.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by lamenting that the righteous perish and are taken away from evil, entering into peace, a truth often unheeded by men. In stark contrast, God addresses the wicked, whom He calls "sons of the sorceress" and "seed of falsehood," for their egregious idolatry. They are depicted enflaming themselves with idols under every green tree, offering sacrifices to stones, and even engaging in child sacrifice. Their unfaithfulness extends to seeking foreign alliances and debasing themselves, all while forgetting God and showing no fear of Him. God declares that their works and alliances will ultimately be profitless. However, the Lord, who is high and holy, also reveals His nature to dwell with the contrite and humble, promising to revive their spirits. He states He will not contend forever, and despite His wrath over their covetousness, He offers healing and peace to those who turn to Him. Yet, the chapter firmly states that the wicked are like a troubled sea, finding no rest, and thus, no peace from God.

Long Summary

Isaiah 57 opens with a poignant observation that the righteous perish and are taken away, often without human understanding that their departure spares them from future evil, allowing them to enter into peace and rest. This sets a stark contrast for the subsequent denunciation of the wicked. God directly confronts those He labels "sons of the sorceress" and "seed of the adulterer and the whore," accusing them of transgression and falsehood. Their idolatrous practices are detailed: enflaming themselves with idols under every green tree, sacrificing children in valleys, and offering libations to smooth stones. They are further condemned for setting up beds on high mountains for sacrifice and establishing symbols of their unfaithfulness behind doors, making covenants with others besides God. The prophet describes their wearisome pursuit of foreign alliances, debasing themselves without hope, yet finding a false sense of life in their own efforts, leading to no grief or remembrance of God. God challenges their lack of fear towards Him, declaring that their self-righteousness and works will ultimately be futile. A turning point arrives as God promises that while the wicked's "companies" will be carried away by the wind, those who trust in Him will possess the land and inherit His holy mountain. The "high and lofty One" who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, reveals His dual dwelling: in the high and holy place, and also with the contrite and humble spirit, to revive them. He explains that He will not contend forever, nor remain perpetually wroth, lest the spirits and souls He created fail. Despite His past wrath due to their covetousness, which led Him to smite and hide Himself, God declares He has seen their ways and will heal them, leading them and restoring comfort to them and their mourners. He promises to create "peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near," and to heal them. The chapter concludes with a powerful image of the wicked as a troubled, restless sea, casting up mire and dirt, definitively stating that there is no peace for the wicked from God.

Core Concepts

  • Rest of the RighteousThe righteous are taken away from evil to come, entering into peace and resting in their uprightness, a fate often unheeded by men.
  • Idolatry and UnfaithfulnessThe wicked are severely condemned for widespread idolatry, including child sacrifice, offerings to stones, and seeking alliances with foreign powers instead of God.
  • God's Holiness and HumilityGod, the high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, is Holy, yet chooses to dwell with and revive the spirit of the contrite and humble.
  • Divine Wrath and MercyGod expresses wrath over the covetousness and frowardness of His people, smiting them and hiding Himself, but also promises healing, leading, and restoring comfort.
  • Peace for the ContriteGod offers peace and healing to those far and near who are humble and contrite, creating the "fruit of the lips" as a promise of restoration.
  • No Peace for the WickedThe wicked are likened to a troubled sea, restless and casting up mire, with God emphatically declaring that there is no peace for them.
  • Futility of False TrustThe wicked's reliance on idols and foreign alliances ("companies") is declared futile, as these will be carried away by the wind, offering no deliverance.