1 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 He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.

3 But draw near here, you{+} sons of the psychic, the seed of the adulterer and the prostitute.

4 Against whom do you{+} sport yourselves? Against whom do you{+} make a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? Are you{+} not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

5 you{+} who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; even to them you have poured a drink-offering, you have offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?

7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.

8 And behind the doors and the posts you have set up your memorial: for you have uncovered [yourself] to other than me, and have gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and you made a covenant with them: you have loved their bed, you have looked at the hand.

9 And you went to the king with oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and debased yourself even to Sheol.

10 You were wearied with the length of your way; yet you didn't say, It is in vain: you found a quickening of your strength; therefore you were not faint.

11 And of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and haven't remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven't I held my peace even of long time, and you don't fear me?

12 I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they will not profit you.

13 When you cry, let those who you have gathered deliver you; but the wind will take them, a breath will carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me will possess the land, and will inherit my holy mountain.

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

15 For thus says the high and lofty One who stays eternally, whose name is Holy: I stay in the high and holy place, and with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who I have made.

17 For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and struck him; I hid [my face] 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 lead him also, 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 Yahweh; and I will heal him.

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

21 There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.