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 before the evil.

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 H e entereth into peace: they rest in their beds, that hath walked in his uprightness.

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

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

But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.

4 A gainst whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom do ye make a wide mouth, draw out the tongue? Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

Against 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,

5 i nflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?

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

6 A mong the smooth of the torrent is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured out a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be comforted myself as to these things?

Among 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?

7 U pon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither didst thou go up to offer sacrifice.

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

8 B ehind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for apart from me, thou hast uncovered thyself, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and hast made agreement with them; thou lovedst their bed, thou sawest their nakedness.

And 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.

9 A nd thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst multiply thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers afar off, and didst debase thyself unto Sheol.

And 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.

10 T hou wast wearied by the multitude of thy ways; thou saidst not, It is of no avail. Thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not sick.

Thou 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.

11 A nd of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor taken it to heart? Have not I even of long time held my peace, and thou fearest me not?

And 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?

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

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

13 W hen thou criest, let them that are gathered by thee deliver thee! But a wind shall carry them all away, a breath shall take them; but he that putteth his trust in me shall inherit the land, and possess my holy mountain.

When 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.

14 A nd it shall be said, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-blocks out of the way of my people.

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

15 F or thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, and whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy, and with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

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.

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

For 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.

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

For 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.

18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him; and I will lead him, and will restore comforts unto him and to those of his that mourn.

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 afar off, and to him nigh, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.

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.

20 B ut the wicked are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, and whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

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

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

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.