Isaiah 57:20
 Isaiah 57:20 
New International Version (©2011)
But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.

English Standard Version (©2001)
But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waters churn up mire and muck.

International Standard Version (©2012)
But the wicked are tossed like the sea; for it is not able to keep still, and its waters toss up mire and mud.

NET Bible (©2006)
But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
But the wicked are like the churning sea. It isn't quiet, and its water throws up mud and slime.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

American King James Version
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

American Standard Version
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But the wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest, and the waves thereof cast up dirt and mire.

Darby Bible Translation
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, and whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

English Revised Version
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

World English Bible
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

Young's Literal Translation
And the wicked are as the driven out sea, For to rest it is not able, And its waters cast out filth and mire.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

57:13-21 The idols and their worshippers shall come to nothing; but those who trust in God's grace, shall be brought to the joys of heaven. With the Lord there is neither beginning of days, nor end of life, nor change of time. His name is holy, and all must know him as a holy God. He will have tender regard to those who bring their mind to their condition, and dread his wrath. He will make his abode with those whose hearts he has thus humbled, in order to revive and comfort them. When troubles last long, even good men are tempted to entertain hard thoughts of God. Therefore He will not contend for ever, for he will not forsake the work of his own hands, nor defeat the purchase of his Son's blood. Covetousness is a sin that particularly lays men under the Divine displeasure. See the sinfulness of sin. See also that troubles cannot reform men unless God's grace work in them. Peace shall be published, perfect peace. It is the fruit of preaching lips, and praying lips. Christ came and preached peace to Gentiles, as well as to the Jews; to after-ages, who were afar off in time, as well as to those of that age. But the wicked would not be healed by God's grace, therefore would not be healed by his comforts. Their ungoverned lusts and passions made them like the troubled sea. Also the terrors of conscience disturbed their enjoyments. God hath said it, and all the world cannot unsay it, That there is no peace to those who allow themselves in any sin. If we are recovered from such an awful state, it is only by the grace of God. And the influences of the Holy Spirit, and that new heart, from whence comes grateful praise, the fruit of our lips, are his gift. Salvation, with all its fruits, hopes, and comforts, is his work, and to him belongs all the glory. There is no peace for the wicked man; but let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - The wicked are like the troubled sea. A striking metaphor, but one which occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament, and once only in the New (Jude 1:13). The sea's restless action well expresses the unquiet of the wicked; and the mud and mire that it casts up resembles their evil thoughts and evil deeds. "There is no peace" for such persons, either bodily or spiritual, either in this world or the world to come.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,.... Disturbed by winds, storms, and hurricanes, when its waves rise, rage, and tumble about, and beat against the shore and sand, threatening to pass the bounds fixed for it. In such like agitations will the minds of wicked men be, through the terrors of conscience for their sins; or through the malice and envy in them at the happiness and prosperity of the righteous, now enjoyed, upon the downfall of antichrist; and through the judgments of God upon them, gnawing their tongues for pain, and blaspheming the God of heaven, because of their plagues and pains, Revelation 16:9,

whose waters cast up mire and dirt; from the bottom of the sea upon the shore; so the hearts of wicked men, having nothing but the mire and dirt of sin in them, cast out nothing else but the froth and foam of their own shame, blasphemy against God, and malice against his people.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. when it cannot rest—rather, "for it can have no rest" (Job 15:20, &c.; Pr 4:16, 17). English Version represents the sea as occasionally agitated; but the Hebrew expresses that it can never be at rest.


Isaiah 57:20 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Healing for the Repentant
19I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, said 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. 21There is no peace, said my God, to the wicked.

Jude 1:13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Job 18:5 "The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning.
Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.
Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus: "Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea.