1The righteous one perishes, and no one lays [it] to heart, and merciful men [are] taken away; no one cares that the righteous is taken away from the face of evil. 2He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking [in] his uprightness. 3But draw near here, sons of the sorceress, seed of the adulterer and the harlot. 4Of whom are you making sport? Against whom do you make a wide mouth [and] draw out the tongue? [Are] you not children of transgression, a lying seed, 5being inflamed with idols under every green tree, killing the little sons in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks? 6Among 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 consoled over these? 7On a lofty and high mountain you have set your bed; even there you went up to offer sacrifice. 8Also behind the door and the post you have set up your image; for you uncovered [yourself] and went up from Me. You spread your bed and cut [a covenant] with them; you loved their bed where you looked. 9And you went to the king with ointment, and increased your perfumes, and sent your messengers far off, and lowered [yourself even] to hell. 10You are wearied in the length of your way; you did not say, Despair! You found life in your hand; so you were not weak. 11And 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 from forever, and you did not fear Me? 12I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not do you any good. 13When you cry, let your gathering deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away. Vanity shall take [them]; but he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain. 14And He shall say, Raise up! Raise up! Clear the way! Make the stumbling-block rise out of the way of My people. 15For so says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity; whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, even with the contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16For I will not contend forever, nor will I be always angry; for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls I have made. 17For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid Myself, and was angry, and he went on turning away in the way of his heart. 18I 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 far off, and to him near, says the LORD; and I will heal him. 20But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. 21[There is] no peace, says my God, to the wicked.