1The 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, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer
and the whore.
4
Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth,
and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of
falsehood.
5Enflaming 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 thy portion; they, they are thy
lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a
meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
7Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest
thou up to offer sacrifice.
8
Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for
thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast
enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed
where thou sawest it.
9
And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes,
and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself
even unto hell.
10
Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There
is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not
grieved.
11
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast
not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even
of old, and thou fearest me not?
12
I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit
thee.
13
When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; 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 ye up, cast ye 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 for ever, 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.
19I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and
to him that is near, saith the LORD; 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.
21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.