| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. | 1The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are swept away, while no one considers that the righteous are guided from the presence of evil. |
| 2Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. | 2Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death. |
| 3"But you--come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! | 3“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! |
| 4Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars? | 4Whom are you mocking? At whom do you snarl and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit, |
| 5You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags. | 5who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? |
| 6The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent? | 6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these? |
| 7You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices. | 7On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices. |
| 8Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked with lust on their naked bodies. | 8Behind the door and doorpost you have set up your memorial. Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed; you climbed up and opened it wide. And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved; you have gazed upon their nakedness. |
| 9You went to Molek with olive oil and increased your perfumes. You sent your ambassadors far away; you descended to the very realm of the dead! | 9You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself. |
| 10You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint. | 10You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak. |
| 11"Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered me nor taken this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? | 11Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? |
| 12I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you. | 12I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you. |
| 13When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain." | 13When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.” |
| 14And it will be said: "Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people." | 14And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.” |
| 15For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. | 15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. |
| 16I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me-- the very people I have created. | 16For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made. |
| 17I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways. | 17I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept turning back to the desires of his heart. |
| 18I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel's mourners, | 18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, |
| 19creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them." | 19bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.” |
| 20But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. | 20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. |
| 21"There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." | 21“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” |
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