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

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

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

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

10 Y ou 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 “ 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 your righteousness And your works, For they will not profit you.

13 W hen 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 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 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 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 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 also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners.

19 “ 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, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

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