1The righteous person dies, and no one takes it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous is taken away from the evil that is coming.
2He shall enter into peace. They shall rest in their beds, each one who walked in his uprightness.
3But come here, you sons of the sorceress, you children of the adulterer and the prostitute.
4Who are you making fun of? Who are you opening your mouth wide at, and sticking out your tongue at? Are you not children of rebellion, children of lies?
5You burn with lust among the idols under every green tree. You kill the children in the valleys, under the cracks of the rocks.
6Among the smooth stones of the stream is your share; they, they are your portion. To them you have poured out a drink offering, and offered a grain offering. Should I be comforted by these things?
7On a high and lofty mountain you have set up your bed. Even there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8Behind the doors and the doorposts you have set up your memorial. You have uncovered yourself to another than me, and have gone up. You have made your bed wide, and made a covenant with them. You loved their bed where you saw it.
9You went to the king with ointment, and increased your perfumes. You sent your messengers far away, and brought yourself down even to hell.
10You are worn out by the length of your journey, yet you did not say, "There is no hope." You found new strength in your hand, so you did not grow weak.
11Who were you afraid of, who did you fear, that you lied and did not remember me, or take it to heart? Have I not kept silent for a long time? And so you do not fear me.
12I will declare your righteousness and your works; they will not help you.
13When you cry out, let the idols you have gathered rescue you. But the wind will carry them all away; a breath will take them. But whoever puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.
14And he shall say, "Build it up, build it up, prepare the way. Take the stumbling block out of the way of my people."
15For this is what the high and lofty One says, who lives for ever, whose name is Holy: "I live in the high and holy place, and also with the person who has a crushed and humble spirit, to give new life to the spirit of the humble, and new life to the heart of the crushed."
16"For I will not accuse for ever, nor will I always be angry. If I did, the spirit would fail before me, and the souls that I have made."
17"I was angry at the sin of his greed, and I struck him. I hid myself, and was angry, and he kept going stubbornly in the way of his own heart."
18"I have seen his ways, and I will heal him. I will lead him also, and bring comfort back to him and to those who mourn for him."
19"I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to the one who is far off, and to the one who is near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him."
20But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waters throw up mud and dirt.
21"There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."