Israel’s Idolatry

1“Alsoa the righteous are perishing,b

but no one takes it to heart;

devout peoplec are taken away,

while no one understands

that the righteous person is taken away from calamity.

2Thend he enters into peace,

ande they’ll rest on hisf couches,

each one living righteously.g

3“But as for you, come here,

you children of a sorceress,

you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!h

4Whom are you mocking?

Andi against whom do you make a wide mouth

and stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of transgression,

the offspring of lies,

5you who burn with lust among the oaks,

under every spreading tree,

who slaughter your children in the ravines,

under the clefts of the rocks?

6“Among the smooth stonesj of the ravines is your portion—

there they are ask your lot.

To them you have poured out drink offerings;

you have brought grain offerings.

Should I be lenient over such things?

7“You have made your bed

on a high and lofty mountain,

and you went up to offer sacrifice there.

8Behind the doors and the doorposts

you have set up your pagan sign.”

For in deserting me you have uncovered your bed—

you have climbed up into it

and have opened it wide.

And youl have made a pact for yourself with them;

you have loved their bed,

you have looked on their private parts.m

9You went to Molechn with olive oil

and increased your perfumes;

you sent your ambassadors far away,

you sent them down even to Sheolo itself!

10You grew tired with your many wanderings,p

but you wouldn’t say: ‘It is hopeless.’

You found new strength for your desire,

and so you did not falter.

11“Whom did you so dread—

and while you feared meq —

that you lied,

and you did not remember me,

andr did not lay to heart these things?s

Haven’t I remained silent for a long time,

and still you don’t fear me?”

12“I will denounce your righteousnesst and your works,

for your collections of idolsu will not benefit you.

13When you cry out, let your collection deliver you!

The wind will carry them all off,

andv a mere breath will sweep them all away.”

God’s Reward for the Faithful

“But whoeverw takes refuge in me will possess the land,

and will inherit my holy mountain.

14And one has said:x

‘Build up! Build up the road!y

Prepare the highway!

Remove every obstacle from my people’s way.’

15“For this is what the high and lofty One says,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

“He livesz in the height and in holiness,aa

and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble,

and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16For I won’t accuse forever,

nor will I always be angry;

for then the human spirit would grow faint before me—

even the souls that I have created.

17Because of his wicked greed I was angry,

so I punished him;

andbb I hid my face, and was angry—

but he kept turning back to his stubborn will.cc

18I’ve seen his ways,dd yet I will heal him,ee

and restore for himff comfortgg to him

and for those who mourn for himhh

19whenii I create the fruit of the lips:

Peacejj to the one who is far away or near,” says the LORD,

“and I’ll heal him.

20But the wicked are tossed like the sea;kk

for it is not able toll keep still,

and its waters toss up mire and mud.

21“Yetmm there is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”