1The righteous perishes and no man takes it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. 2He will enter into peace. The honorable and honest will rest in his bed. 3»But come here, you sons of the witch, you offspring of the adulterer and the prostitute! 4With whom are you effeminate self-indulgent? With whom do you open wide your mouth and offer your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood and deceit? 5Are you inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? 6»Is your portion among the smooth stones of the stream? They indeed are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering. You have offered a grain offering. Should this give me comfort? 7»You placed your bed on a lofty and high mountain. Even there you went up to offer sacrifice. 8»You ordained your memorial behind the doors and their posts. You revealed uncovered yourself to those other than me. You went to them. You enlarged your bed and made a covenant with them. You have loved their bed, where you saw their naked manhood. 9»You went to the king with ointment and much perfume. You sent your messengers far off, and descended even to the grave. 10»You are wearied because of the length of your trip. Yet you did not say: I give up. There is no hope. You have found the renewal of your strength. Therefore you were not grieved. 11»Who frightened you? Who made you afraid, that you have lied and not remembered me? You did not take it to your heart. Is it not because I have held my peace from of old that you do not reverence respect me? 12»I will declare your righteousness and your works, yet they will not profit you. 13»When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away. A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain. 14»‘One will say: ‘Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way; Take the stumbling block out of the way of my people.’« 15The High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy, says: ‘I dwell in the high and holy and also with him who has a contrite and humble spirit. I revive the spirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones.’ 16For I will not contend rebuke forever! Nor will I always be angry! The spirit would fail before me, and those whom I have made. 17Because of the iniquity of his covetousness gain I was angry and struck him. I hid and was angry. He went on backsliding in the way of his heart his heart directed course of life. 18I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. 19I create the fruit praise of the lips: Peace, peace to the near and the far off, says Jehovah, and I will heal him. 20But the wicked are like the troubled and restless sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21My God has said: »There is no peace for the wicked.«