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 shall enter into peace : they shall rest in their beds , each one walking in his uprightness .
Idolatry and Its Consequences
3But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress , the seed of the adulterer and the whore . 4Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth , and draw out the tongue ? are ye not children of transgression , a seed of falsehood , 5Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree , slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks ? 6Among 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? 7Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed : even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice . 8Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance : for thou hast discovered 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 ointment , and didst increase thy perfumes , and didst send thy messengers far off , and didst debase thyself even unto hell . 10Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way ; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope : thou hast found the life of thine hand ; therefore thou wast not grieved . 11And 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? 12I will declare thy righteousness , and thy works ; for they shall not profit thee. 13When 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 ;
God's Compassion and Healing
14And shall say , Cast ye up , cast ye up , prepare the way , take up the stumblingblock 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 ones . 16For I will not contend for ever , neither will I be always wroth : for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made . 17For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth , and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth , and he went on frowardly 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 the LORD ; and I will heal him.
The Way of Peace
20But the wicked are like the troubled sea , when it cannot rest , whose waters cast up mire and dirt . 21There is no peace , saith my God , to the wicked .