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 lays 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 shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking 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 whore.

¶ But come here, ye sons of the sorceress, generation of the adulterer and the whore.

4 A gainst 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.

Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom do ye make a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are ye not rebellious sons, a lying seed of transgression,

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

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

6 A mong 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?

Among the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even unto them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a present. Should I not avenge these things?

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

Upon the lofty and high mountain thou hast set thy bed: even there thou didst go up to offer sacrifice.

8 B ehind 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.

Behind the doors also and the posts thou hast 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 didst love their bed wherever thou didst see it.

9 A nd 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.

And thou didst go to the king with ointment and didst multiply thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.

10 T hou 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.

Thou became wearied in the multitude of thy ways; yet thou didst not say, There is no remedy: thou hast found that which thou wast searching for; therefore thou repented not.

11 A nd 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?

And of whom hast thou reverenced or feared? Why dost thou lie; that thou hast not remembered me, nor have I come to thy thought? Have I not held my peace even of old, and thou hast never feared me?

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

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

13 W hen 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;

¶ When thou criest, let thy companions deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that waits in me shall have the land by inheritance and shall possess the mountain of my holiness.

14 A nd shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

And shall say, Clear away, clear away, level the way, take away the stumblingblocks 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 ones.

For thus has said the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is The Holy One; I dwell in the high place and in holiness and with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to cause the spirit of the humble to live and to cause the heart of the contrite ones to live.

16 F or 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.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for by me is the spirit covered by the body, and I have made the souls.

17 F or 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.

¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him: I hid my face and was wroth, and he went on rebelliously 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 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 the Lord; 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, said the LORD; and healed him.

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

But the wicked are like the sea in tempest, that 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, saith my God, for the wicked.