The Blessed Death of the Righteous

1The righteous one has perished,

and no man takes it upon the heart;

and men of devotion are gathered up,

and no one considers

that the righteous one is gathered up

from the face of evil.

2He enters into peace; they rest in their beds,

each walking in his uprightness.

God Condemns Idolatry

3“And you⁺, draw near here, sons of a sorceress,

seed of an adulterer and prostitute!

4Against whom are you⁺ mocking?

Against whom do you⁺ make wide the mouth and stick out the tongue?

Are you⁺ not children of transgression,

seed of deception—

5those warming themselves among the Oaks,

under every green tree,

slaughtering the sons in the valleys,

under the clefts of the cliffs?

6Among the smooth things of the valley is your portion;

they—they are your lot!

Even to them you have poured out a drink offering,

having offered up a grain offering.

Should I relent over these?

7Upon a mountain high and lifted up you have set your bed;

also you went up there to offer sacrifice.

8And behind the door and the post

you have set up your memorial;

for away from me you uncovered yourself and went up;

you widened your bed,

and cut for yourself with them. You have loved their bed;

you have gazed upon a hand!

9And you went to Molech† with oil

and multiplied your perfumes,

and you sent your envoys† even to far away;

you have descended even to Sheol.

10In the greatness of your journeying you were weary;

you did not say “It is hopeless.”

The life of your hand you have found;

upon thus you did not weaken.

11And of whom were you in fear and were afraid,

that you would lie? And you have not remembered Me,

and you did not take it upon your heart.

And I have not been silent from old,

and Me you did not fear?

12I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,

and they will not profit you.

13In your crying out,

let your gathered ones deliver you;

but the wind will carry them all away;

vanity will take him.

And the one taking refuge in Me will inherit the land

and will possess My holy mountain.”

Healing for the Repentant

14And He said:

“Build up, build up, clear the way,

take up the stumbling block from the way of My people.”

15For thus says the One High and Lifted up,

dwelling in eternity—and Holy His name:

“On high and holy I dwell,

with the broken and lowly of spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly ones,

and to revive the heart of the broken ones.

16For I will not contend forever,

and I will not be angry to the end.

For the spirit from before My face would turn aside,

and the souls I have made.

17With the iniquity of his gain I was angry, and I struck him;

I hid and was angry.

And he went on,

turning back in the way of his heart.

18His ways I have seen,

and I will heal him,

and I will lead him and restore comforts

to him and to his mourners,

19creating the fruit of the lips.

“Peace, peace to the far off one and to the near one, and I will heal him.”

Says YHWH.

20And the wicked are like the driven sea,

for it is not able to be quiet,

and its waters churn up mud and mire.

21“There is no peace,” says my God,

“For the wicked.”