A common misinterpretation views this verse as condemning all forms of emotional distress or life's storms as evidence of personal wickedness, overlooking that godly people endure trials yet possess inner peace through faith; it specifically depicts the self-inflicted, perpetual agitation from immoral living, not general hardships, and should not be weaponized to judge others without considering context or grace.
Isaiah 57:20
King James Version (1769)
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Isaiah 57:20 portrays the wicked as restless and turbulent like a stormy sea that cannot calm down, constantly churning up filth and debris, illustrating their inner turmoil and lack of peace due to their separation from God and unrepentant sin; true rest and peace are reserved for the righteous who trust in Him.