1The 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 . 2He entereth into peace ; they rest in their beds , each one that walketh in his uprightness .
Idolatry and Its Consequences
3But draw near hither , ye sons of the sorceress , the seed of the adulterer and the harlot . 4Against whom do ye sport yourselves ? against whom make ye a wide mouth , and put out the tongue ? are ye not children of transgression , a seed of falsehood , 5ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree ; that slay the children in the valleys , under the clefts of the rocks ? 6Among the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion ; they , they are thy lot ; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation . Shall I be appeased for these things ? 7Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed ; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice . 8And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial : for thou hast uncovered thyself to another than me , and art gone up ; thou hast enlarged thy bed , and made thee a covenant with them : thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it . 9And thou wentest to the king with oil , and didst increase thy perfumes , and didst send thine ambassadors far off , and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol . 10Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way ; yet saidst thou not , It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength ; therefore thou wast not faint . 11And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear , that thou liest, and hast not remembered me , nor laid it to thy heart ? have not I held my peace even of long time , and thou fearest me not ? 12I will declare thy righteousness ; and as for thy works , they shall not profit thee . 13When thou criest , let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee ; but the wind shall take them , a breath shall carry them all away : but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain .
God's Compassion and Healing
14And he will say, Cast ye up , cast ye up , prepare the way , take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people . 15For 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 . 16For I will not contend for ever , neither will I be always wroth ; for the spirit would faint before me , and the souls that I have made . 17For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth , and smote him ; I hid my face and was wroth ; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart . 18I have seen his ways , and will heal him : I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. 19I create the fruit of the lips : Peace , peace , to him that is far off and to him that is near , saith Jehovah ; and I will heal him .
The Way of Peace
20But the wicked are like the troubled sea ; for it cannot rest , and its waters cast up mire and dirt . 21There is no peace , saith my God, to the wicked .