No peace for the wicked, but healing for the humble

57:1 The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil. 57:2 Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace; they rest on their beds. 57:3 But approach, you sons of omen readers, you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes! 57:4 At whom are you laughing? At whom are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue? You are the children of rebels, the offspring of liars, 57:5 you who practice ritual sex under the oaks and every green tree, who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs. 57:6 Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love; they, they are the object of your devotion. You pour out liquid offerings to them, you make an offering. Because of these things I will seek vengeance. 57:7 On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed; you go up there to offer sacrifices. 57:8 Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols. Indeed, you depart from me and go up and invite them into bed with you. You purchase favors from them, you love their bed, and gaze longingly on their genitals. 57:9 You take olive oil as tribute to your king, along with many perfumes. You send your messengers to a distant place; you go all the way to Sheol. 57:10 Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired, but you do not say, ‘I give up.’ You get renewed energy, so you don’t collapse. 57:11 Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me. 57:12 I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you. 57:13 When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain.” 57:14 He says, “Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!” 57:15 For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: “I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged. 57:16 For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man’s spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created. 57:17 I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn. 57:18 I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn. 57:19 I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby,” says the Lord, “and I will heal them. 57:20 But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand. 57:21 There will be no prosperity,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Isaiah 57 shows a sharp contrast. The godly may perish, and people do not always notice or care, but God says they enter peace and rest. The wicked keep running after idols, secret sin, and false help. Their so-called righteousness cannot save them. God is holy, and he will judge sin. Yet he also promises mercy, healing, and comfort to the humble who look to him.

The chapter begins with a sad truth: the godly sometimes perish, and people do not always notice or care. But God says their death is not the end of their hope. They enter peace and rest.

Then the Lord turns to strong warning. He exposes the sins of his people. They had turned to idols, occult practices, sexual sin, and even child sacrifice. They were outwardly religious, but their hearts were far from God. Their hidden sins were no secret to him.

God rejects their false righteousness. Their idols cannot help them. They are weak and empty, and they will be carried away like wind. The Lord alone gives true inheritance, true access to his holy mountain, and true peace.

At the same time, God reveals his mercy. He is high and holy, but he also dwells with the lowly and brokenhearted. He does not stay angry forever. He judges stubborn sin, but he also heals, restores, and comforts those who mourn and humble themselves before him. The chapter ends with a final warning: the wicked have no peace.

• God sees both public sin and hidden sin.
• Idolatry is covenant unfaithfulness and brings judgment.
• God does not accept false righteousness.
• The godly who perish are brought into peace and rest.
• The high and holy God also dwells with the humble.
• The Lord gives healing and comfort to the contrite.
• There is no peace for the wicked.

• Warning: do not trust idols or any false source of help.
• Warning: God will judge stubborn sin and false righteousness.
• Command: look to the Lord for help.
• Command: humble yourself before the Lord and turn from pride and hidden rebellion.
• Promise: the one who looks to God will inherit the land and have access to his holy mountain.
• Promise: God will heal, restore, and comfort the humble.
• Promise: the godly who perish enter peace and rest.

This passage fits Isaiah's larger message of judgment and restoration. God first exposes covenant unfaithfulness, then promises renewed blessing for the humble remnant. The promises of land, holy mountain, and peace belong to God's covenant people and point to his restoring work, not to a vague promise of comfort for everyone.

Do not treat God's silence as approval. Secret sin still matters to him. Do not trust outward religion if your heart is divided. Instead, humble yourself before the Lord, turn from idols, and look to him alone for help. He is holy, and he is also able to heal the brokenhearted.

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