1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
2 He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
3 “But draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore!
4 Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom make you a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, they are your lot: even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
7 Upon a lofty and high mountain have you set your bed; even thither wentest you up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the doors also and the posts have you set up your remembrance; for you have discovered yourself to another than Me, and art gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them; you lovedst their bed where you sawest it.
9 And you wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase your perfumes, and didst send your messengers far off, and didst debase yourself even unto sheol.
10 You are wearied in the greatness of your way; yet saidst you not, ‘There is no hope.’ You have found the life of your hand; therefore you wast not grieved.
11 “And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and hast not remembered Me, nor laid it to your heart? Have not I held My peace even of old, and you fearest Me not?
12 I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not profit you.
13 When you criest, let your companies deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain.”
14 And shall say, “Cast you up, cast you up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of My people.”
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls which I have made.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
19 “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near,” saith יהוה, “And I will heal him.”
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 “There is no peace,” saith my God (Elohim), “for the wicked.”