Isaiah 57:12-13

57:12 I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, ¹ 

but they will not help you.

57:13 When you cry out for help, let your idols ²  help you!

The wind blows them all away, ³ 

a breeze carries them away. ⁴ 

But the one who looks to me for help ⁵  will inherit the land

and will have access to ⁶  my holy mountain.”

[57:12]  ¹ tn Heb “I, I will declare your righteousness and your deeds.”

[57:13]  ² tn The Hebrew text has קִבּוּצַיִךְ (qibbutsayikh, “your gatherings”), an otherwise unattested noun from the verbal root קָבַץ (qavats, “gather”). Perhaps this alludes to their religious assemblies and by metonymy to their rituals. Since idolatry is a prominent theme in the context, some understand this as a reference to a collection of idols. The second half of the verse also favors this view.

[57:13]  ³ tn Heb “all of them a wind lifts up.”

[57:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “a breath takes [them] away.”

[57:13]  ⁵ tn Or “seeks refuge in me.” “Seeking refuge” is a metonymy for “being loyal to.”

[57:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “possess, own.” The point seems to be that he will have free access to God’s presence, as if God’s temple mount were his personal possession.