Isaiah 57: The righteous die in peace and integrity, crushed and depressed but Yehoweh permanently resides with them but there is no hope for the wicked.

1: The righteous died and no man set it to heart.

To cause to gather men away is in no way a cause to discern mercy.

For the righteous (one) is taken from the face of trouble.

2: He enters peace.

They rest in beds in integrity.

 

3: And you (masc) – come close.

Behold sons of covert-practicers and offspring of prostituters.  

And they prostitute.

4: Over whom do you (masc) make yourself indulge (in pleasure/luxury)?

Over whom do you (masc) make a mouth widen and carefully arrange for a tongue to stick out?

Are you not children of rebellion-sin (psha), offspring of lies?

5: The Inflamed-by-strength (idols/rams/oaks/lords – ayil shortens to el) under every verdant tree, aborting the children in the valley-streams, under the rocky fissures?

6: In your (masc) smooth/equitability streams, they are smooth/equitable (or are), they are rough stone/chance (?)

They were poured out as a drink offering.

Over and above these you (fem) caused a grain offering to be lifted up.

Should I be comforted?

7: On a mountain, high and lifted up, you (fem) established your bed. Even there we raised up to slaughter sacrifice a slaughter sacrifice.

8: And behind the door and the mezzuzah (doorpost on which the law is placed) you (fem) placed your remembrance.

For from (just after passing) My sign you stripped off and go up.

You (fem) caused expansion from your bed.

And you (fem) cut a covenant with them. You (fem) loved their bed / intimate hand*. You stared.

9: And you (fem) journeyed to the king with oil and caused anointing^ compounds to increase and  even sent envoys distantly, and you (fem) even caused descent to Sheol.

10: You (fem) were tired in your many ways. You (fem) said life despaired. You (fem) discovered your hand* and so You did not grieve.

11: And of whom were you anxious or afraid that you (fem) lied to Me? Did not remember, did not set your heart, did you (fem)?

I caused a hush forever and you do not fear Me?

12: I make announcement of your righteousness and of your work and it will not cause you (fem) benefit.

13: When crying out, your assemblies cause you (fem) to be snatched away, and a wind lifts them all and a breath takes them.

 

And the one who trusts in Me inherits the land and occupies the holy mountain

14: and said, “Exalt, Exalt, Face The Way. Cause the stumbling block in My peoples’ way to be exalted”.

Pause and think about that.

15: For thus said the High and Lifted One permanently residing in eternity, and whose Name is Holy,

“I permanently dwell in high and holy.  

And it’s with the crushed and the depressed spirit –

to cause the crushed spirits to live,

to cause the depressed spirits to live.

16: For I am not forever quarrelling and I am not continually enraged.

For a spirit faints before my face and the breaths I made.

17: I raged on punishable sin, on his plunder. I caused him to be struck and caused it to be hidden. I rage and he walks in his heart’s backslidden way.

18: I saw his ways.

I heal him. I transport him. I shalam him (make him whole). Comfort to him and to his mourners.

19: Created produce of the lips: “Peace, Peace to far and near”, said Yehoweh. And I heal his.

20: And the wicked are like separated waters for they are not caused to be tranquil. For their waters are not able to separate mud and clay.

21: My God said, “There is no wholeness (shalom) for the wicked”.

Full-Stop.

Prayer: Lord, in the depths of crushing depression, may we remain righteous. And we know in life and death, You are with us. Never let us be children of rebellion, publicly demonstrating religious fervour but prostituting in secret sin as soon as we cross the high church doorposts or our homes. Never seeking favour of world governments and philosophies and not fearing You. And in the end cause peace and integrity to mark our rest. Amen.