1. The righteous perishes, and no man takes 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 to here, you sons of the sorceress, the offspring of the adulterer and the whore.
4. Against whom do you make sport? against whom do you make a wide mouth, and stick out the tongue? are you not children of transgression, the offspring of falsehood,
5. Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the openings in 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 food offering. Should I receive comfort in these things?
7. Upon a lofty and high mountain have you placed your bed: even there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8. Behind the doors also and the posts have you set up your remembrance: for you have uncovered yourself to another than me, and have gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made a covenant with them; you loved their bed where you saw it.
9. And you went to the king with ointment, and increased your perfumes, and sent your messengers far off, and debased yourself even unto hell.
10. You are wearied with the length of your way; yet you did not say, There is no hope: you have found life for your hand; therefore you were not grieved.
11. And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered me, nor taken it to heart? have I not held my peace even from of old, and you do not fear me?
12. I will declare your righteousness, and your works ; for they shall not profit you.
13. When you cry, let your crowds deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he who puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;
14. And shall say, Build up, build up, prepare the way, take the stumbling block out of the way of my people.
15. For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; 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 ones.
16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I always be angry: for the spirit would fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and struck him: I hid myself, and was angry, and he went on stubbornly in the way of his heart.
18. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and again comfort him and his mourners.
19. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, says the LORD; and I will heal him.
20. But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters toss up mire and dirt.
21. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
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