1 T he 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.

The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil.

2 H e entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.

He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness.

3 B ut draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.

“But come here, You sons of the sorceress, You offspring of the adulterer and the harlot!

4 A gainst whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

Whom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth And stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Offspring of falsehood,

5 y e that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

Inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree, Slaying the children in the valleys, Under the clefts of the rocks?

6 A mong the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?

Among the smooth stones of the stream Is your portion; They, they, are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

7 U pon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

“On a lofty and high mountain You have set your bed; Even there you went up To offer sacrifice.

8 A nd behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered 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.

Also behind the doors and their posts You have set up your remembrance; For you have uncovered yourself to those other than Me, And have gone up to them; You have enlarged your bed And made a covenant with them; You have loved their bed, Where you saw their nudity.

9 A nd thou wentest to the king with oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.

You went to the king with ointment, And increased your perfumes; You sent your messengers far off, And even descended to Sheol.

10 T hou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not, It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not faint.

You are wearied in the length of your way; Yet you did not say, ‘There is no hope.’ You have found the life of your hand; Therefore you were not grieved.

11 A nd of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?

“And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, That you have lied And not remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?

12 I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.

I will declare your righteousness And your works, For they will not profit you.

13 W hen thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.

When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain.” Healing for the Backslider

14 A nd he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.

And one shall say, “Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.”

15 F or 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.

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 who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16 F or I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.

For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.

17 F or the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid my face and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding 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.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to 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 Jehovah; and I will heal him.

“I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.”

20 B ut the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21 T here is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

“ There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked.”