1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. merciful…: Heb. men of kindness, or, godlinessfrom…: or, from that which is evil

2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. enter into: or, go inin his…: or, before him

3 But come here, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.

4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and stick out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

5 Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks? with…: or, among the oaks

6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even there thou wentest up to offer sacrifice.

8 Behind the doors also and the door posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast uncovered thyself to another than me, and hast gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou didst love their bed where thou sawest it. made…: or, hewed it for thyself larger than theirswhere…: or, thou providedst room

9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even to hell. thou…: or, thou respectedst

10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thy hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. life: or, living

11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a 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 for ever, neither will I be always angry: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls whom I have made.

17 For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and smote him: I hid myself, and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. frowardly: Heb. turning away

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 that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

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

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