[1] The upright man goes to his death, and no one gives a thought to it;
and god-fearing men are taken away, and no one is troubled by it; for the
upright man is taken away because of evil-doing, and goes into peace. [2]
They are at rest in their last resting-places, every one going straight
before him. [3] But come near, you sons of her who is wise in secret arts,
the seed of her who is false to her husband, and of the loose woman. [4] Of
whom do you make sport? against whom is your mouth open wide and your
tongue put out? are you not uncontrolled children, a false seed, [5] You
who are burning with evil desire among the oaks, under every green tree;
putting children to death in the valleys, under the cracks of the rocks?
[6] Among the smooth stones of the valley is your heritage; they, even
they, are your part: even to them have you made a drink offering and a meal
offering. Is it possible for such things to be overlooked by me? [7] You
have put your bed on a high mountain: there you went up to make your
offering. [8] And on the back of the doors and on the pillars you have put
your sign: for you have been false to me with another; you have made your
bed wide, and made an agreement with them; you had a desire for their bed
where you saw it [9] And you went to Melech with oil and much perfume, and
you sent your representatives far off, and went as low as the underworld.
[10] You were tired with your long journeys; but you did not say, There is
no hope: you got new strength, and so you were not feeble. [11] And of whom
were you in fear, so that you were false, and did not keep me in mind, or
give thought to it? Have I not been quiet, keeping myself secret, and so
you were not in fear of me? [12] I will make clear what your righteousness
is like and your works; you will have no profit in them. [13] Your false
gods will not keep you safe in answer to your cry; but the wind will take
them, they will be gone like a breath: but he who puts his hope in me will
take the land, and will have my holy mountain as his heritage. [14] And I
will say, Make it high, make it high, get ready the way, take the stones
out of the way of my people. [15] For this is the word of him who is high
and lifted up, whose resting-place is eternal, whose name is Holy: my
resting-place is in the high and holy place, and with him who is crushed
and poor in spirit, to give life to the spirit of the poor, and to make
strong the heart of the crushed. [16] For I will not give punishment for
ever, or be angry without end: for from me breath goes out; and I it was
who made the souls. [17] I was quickly angry with his evil ways, and sent
punishment on him, veiling my face in wrath: and he went on, turning his
heart from me. [18] I have seen his ways, and I will make him well: I will
give him rest, comforting him and his people who are sad. [19] I will give
the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is near and to him who is
far off, says the Lord; and I will make him well. [20] But the evil-doers
are like the troubled sea, for which there is no rest, and its waters send
up earth and waste. [21] There is no peace, says my God, for the
evil-doers.
