1The righteous person perishes, yet no one takes it to heart; and faithful men are taken away, with no one considering that the righteous person is taken away from the evil.
2He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.
3“But you, draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, seed of the adulterer and the prostitute.
4Against whom are you mocking? Against whom are you making a wide mouth and sticking out your tongue? Aren’t you children of rebellion, the seed of deceit,
5you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter the children in the ravines, under the clefts of the rocks?
6Among the smooth ones of the ravine is your portion; they, they are your lot. You have poured out a drink offering to them. You have brought a grain offering. Because of these things, how can I relent?
7On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.
8Behind the doors and the posts you have set your reminder symbols, for away from me you have uncovered yourself and have gone up on your bed; you have enlarged your bed, and cut a covenant with them; you loved their bed; you looked at their genitals.
9You went to the king with oil and increased your perfumes and sent your ambassadors far off, and debased yourself even to Sheol.
10You were worn out by the length of your journey, yet you did not say, ‘It is in vain.’ You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you were not faint.
11Of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven’t I held my peace even for a long time, and you do not fear me?
12I will declare your “righteousness;” and as for your works, they will not profit you.
13When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you; but the wind will carry them all off, a breath will carry them all away; but the one who takes refuge in me will possess the land and will inherit my holy mountain.”
14And it will be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the road; take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people.”
15For this is what the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit would faint before me, and the souls of people who I have made.
17Because of the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and struck him; I hid myself and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18I have seen his ways and will heal him; I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
19I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Yahweh, “and I will heal them.”
20But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
21“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
REV Bible
