1 And devout men are taken away, while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from evil, | |
2 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; | |
2 He enters into peace;
They rest in theira I.e. gravesbeds,
Each one who walked in his upright way. | |
3 “But come here, you sons of a sorceress,
Offspring of an adulterer andb So ancient versions; Heb she prostitutes herselfa prostitute. | |
4 “Against whom do you jest?
Against whom do you open wide your mouth
And stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of rebellion,
Offspring of deceit, | |
5 Who inflame yourselves among thec Or terebinthsoaks,
Under every luxuriant tree,
Who slaughter the children in thed Or wadisravines,
Under the clefts of the crags? | |
6 “Among thee I.e. symbols of fertility godssmooth stones of thef Or wadiravine
Is your portion,g Lit they, theythey are your lot;
Even to them you have poured out a drink offering,
You have made a grain offering.
Shall Ih Or repentrelent concerning these things? | |
7 “Upon a high and lofty mountain
You have made your bed.
You also went up there to offer sacrifice. | |
8 “Behind the door and the doorpost
You have set up your sign;
Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself,
And have gone up and made your bed wide.
And you have made an agreement for yourself with them,
You have loved theiri Or lying downbed,
You have looked on theirj Lit handmanhood. | |
9 “You have journeyed to the king with oil
And increased your perfumes;
You have sent your envoys a great distance
And made them go down tok I.e. the nether worldSheol. | |
10 “You were tired out by the length of your road,
Yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’
You foundl Lit the life of your handrenewed strength,
Therefore you did notm Or become sickfaint. | |
11 “Of whom were you worried and fearful
When you lied, and did not remember Me
n Lit You did not set it upon your heartNor give Me a thought?
Was I not silent even for a long time
So you do not fear Me? | |
12 “I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
But they will not profit you. | |
13 “When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you.
But the wind will carry all of them up,
And a breath will take them away.
But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land
And will possess My holy mountain.” | |
14 And it will be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.” | |
15 For thus says the high and exalted One
Whoo Or dwells in eternitylives forever, whose name is Holy,
“I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite. | |
16 “For I will not contend forever,
Nor will I always be angry;
For the spirit would grow faint before Me,
And the breath of those whom I have made. | |
17 “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;
I hid My face and was angry,
And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart. | |
18 “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, | |
19 Creating thep Lit fruit of the lipspraise of the lips.
Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,”
Says the LORD, “and I will heal him.” | |
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
For it cannot be quiet,
And its waters toss up refuse and mud. | |
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” | |
