Isaiæ 57

1 Iustus perit, et non est qui recogitet in corde suo: et viri misericordiæ colliguntur, quia non est qui intelligat, a facie enim malitiæ collectus est iustus.

The righteous perish, but no one considers it, and the people of covenant faithfulness are gathered away, but no one understands that the righteous is gathered away from the evil.

2 Veniat pax, requiescat in cubili suo qui ambulavit in directione sua.

He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, those who walk in their uprightness.

3 Vos autem accedite huc filii auguratricis: semen adulteri, et fornicariæ.

But come here, you sons of the sorceress, children of the adulterer and the woman who has prostituted herself.

4 Super quem lusistis? Super quem dilatastis os, et eiecistis linguam? Numquid non vos filii scelesti, semen mendax?

Whom are you merrily mocking? Against whom are you opening the mouth and sticking out the tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, children of deceit?

5 Qui consolamini in diis subter omne lignum frondosum, immolantes parvulos in torrentibus, subter eminentes petras?

You heat yourselves up sleeping together under the oaks, under every green tree, you who kill your children in the dry riverbeds, under the rocky overhangs.

6 In partibus torrentis pars tua, hæc est sors tua: et ipsis effudisti libamen, obtulisti sacrificium. Numquid super his non indignabor?

Among the smooth things of the river valley are the things that have been assigned to you. They are the object of your devotion. You pour out your drink offering to them and raise up a grain offering. In these things should I take pleasure?

7 Super montem excelsum et sublimem posuisti cubile tuum, et illuc ascendisti ut immolares hostias.

You prepared your bed on a high mountain; you also went up there to offer sacrifices.

8 Et post ostium, et retro postem posuisti memoriale tuum: quia iuxta me discooperuisti, et suscepisti adulterum: dilatasti cubile tuum, et pepigisti cum eis fœdus: dilexisti stratum eorum manu aperta.

Behind the door and the doorposts you set up your symbols; you deserted me, made yourselves naked, and went up; you made your bed wide. You made a covenant with them; you loved their beds; you saw their private parts.

9 Et ornasti te regi unguento, et multiplicasti pigmenta tua. Misisti legatos tuos procul, et humiliata es usque ad inferos. (Sheol h7585)

You went to Molech with oil; you multiplied perfumes. You send your ambassadors far away; you went down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)

10 In multitudine viæ tuæ laborasti: non dixisti: Quiescam: vitam manus tuæ invenisti, propterea non rogasti.

You were tired from your long journey, but you never said, “It is hopeless.” You found life in your hand; therefore you did not weaken.

11 Pro quo solicita timuisti, quia mentita es, et mei non es recordata, neque cogitasti in corde tuo? Quia ego tacens, et quasi non videns, et mei oblita es.

“Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear so much that has caused you to act so deceitfully, so much that you would not remember me or think about me? Because I was silent for so long, you are no longer afraid of me.

12 Ego annunciabo iustitiam tuam, et opera tua non proderunt tibi.

I will proclaim all your righteous acts and tell all that you have done, but they will not help you.

13 Cum clamaveris, liberent te congregati tui, et omnes eos auferet ventus, tollet aura: Qui autem fiduciam habet mei, hereditabit terram, et possidebit montem sanctum meum.

When you cry out, let your collection of idols rescue you. Instead the wind will carry them all away, a breath will carry them all away. Yet he who takes refuge in me will inherit the land and will take possession of my holy mountain.

14 Et dicam: Viam facite, præbete iter, declinate de semita, auferte offendicula de via populi mei.

He will say, 'Build, build! Clear a way! Remove all the stumbling blocks from the path of my people!'”

15 Quia hæc dicit Excelsus, et Sublimis habitans æternitatem: et sanctum nomen eius in excelso et in sancto habitans, et cum contrito et humili spiritu: ut vivificet spiritum humilium, et vivificet cor contritorum.

For this is what the high and elevated One says, who lives eternally, whose name is holy, “I live in the exalted and holy place, with him also that is of a crushed and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble ones, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16 Non enim in sempiternum litigabo, neque usque ad finem irascar: quia Spiritus a facie mea egredietur, et flatus ego faciam.

For I will not accuse forever, nor will I be angry forever, for then man's spirit would faint before me, the lives that I have made.

17 Propter iniquitatem avaritiæ eius iratus sum, et percussi eum: abscondi a te faciem meam, et indignatus sum: et abiit vagus in via cordis sui.

Because of the sin of his violent gain, I was angry, and I punished him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went backward in the way of his heart.

18 Vias eius vidi, et sanavi eum, et reduxi eum, et reddidi consolationes ipsi, et lugentibus eius.

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him. I will lead him and comfort and console those who mourn for him,

19 Creavi fructum labiorum pacem, pacem ei, qui longe est, et qui prope, dixit Dominus, et sanavi eum.

and I create the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to those who are far off and to those who are near—says Yahweh—I will heal them.

20 Impii autem quasi mare fervens, quod quiescere non potest, et redundant fluctus eius in conculcationem et lutum.

But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, and its waters churn up mire and mud.

21 Non est pax impiis, dicit Dominus Deus.

There is no peace for the wicked one—says God.”