^{1 Ref} 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'.

^{2 Ref} He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.

^{3 Ref} But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.

^{4 Ref} Against 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,

^{5 Ref} ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

^{6 Ref} Among 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?

^{7 Ref} Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

^{8 Ref} And 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.

^{9 Ref} And 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.

^{10 Ref} Thou 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.

^{11 Ref} And 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?

^{12 Ref} I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.

^{13 Ref} When 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.

^{14 Ref} And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.

^{15 Ref} 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.

^{16 Ref} For 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.

^{17 Ref} For 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.

^{18 Ref} I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

^{19 Ref} I 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.

^{20 Ref} But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

^{21 Ref} There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

^{1 Ref} The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

^{2 Ref} He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.

^{3 Ref} But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the prostitute.

^{4 Ref} Against whom do you sport yourselves? against whom make you a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? Aren't you children of disobedience, a seed of falsehood,

^{5 Ref} you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

^{6 Ref} Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; even to them have you poured a drink-offering, you have offered an offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?

^{7 Ref} On a high and lofty mountain have you set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.

^{8 Ref} Behind the doors and the posts have you set up your memorial: for you have uncovered [yourself] to another than me, and are gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them: you loved their bed where you saw it.

^{9 Ref} You went to the king with oil, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your ambassadors far off, and did debase yourself even to Sheol.

^{10 Ref} You were wearied with the length of your way; yet you didn't say, It is in vain: you found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren't faint.

^{11 Ref} Of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven't I held my peace even of long time, and you don't fear me?

^{12 Ref} I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you.

^{13 Ref} When you cry, let those who you have gathered deliver you; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.

^{14 Ref} He will say, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.

^{15 Ref} For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

^{16 Ref} For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who I have made.

^{17 Ref} For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and struck him; I hid [my face] and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

^{18 Ref} I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

^{19 Ref} I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near, says Yahweh; and I will heal him.

^{20 Ref} But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

^{21 Ref} There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.