1 The righteous perishes, and no one lays it to heart, and merciful men are taken away; no one considers that the righteous is taken away from the face of evil.

2 He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

3 But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, you seed of the adulterer and the harlot.

4 Of whom do you make sport? Against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, a seed of deception,

5 being inflamed with gods under every green tree, slaughtering the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, even they, are your lot; even to them you have poured a drink offering, you have offered a food offering. Should I be comforted over these?

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

8 Also behind the doors and the posts you have set up your memorials; for you uncovered yourself and went up to those other than Me. You enlarged your bed and made a covenant with them; you have loved to experience their bed first hand.

9 And you went to the king with ointment, and increased your perfumes, and sent your messengers far away, and lowered yourself even to Sheol.

10 You are wearied in the length of your way; yet you did not say, There is no hope! You found life in your hand; therefore you were not weak.

11 And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied and have not remembered Me, nor laid it to your heart? Have I not been silent, even for a long time, and you did not fear Me?

12 I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not be of any benefit to you.

13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away; a breath shall take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain.

14 And He shall say, Raise up! Raise up! Clear a path! Remove the stumbling block out of the way of My people.

15 For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and consecrated place, even with the contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before Me, and the souls I have made.

17 For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid Myself 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 Jehovah; and I will heal him.

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

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