1“The righteous person dies, and no one takes it to heart; the faithful believer is taken from us, none (or few) realizing that the righteous are taken away in order to spare them the evil that is coming. 2For those who serve God, walking in uprightness, shall find peace; as they rest in their beds.

3“But you - come here, you sons of the sorceress, children of the adulterer and the harlot! 4Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer, and stick your tongue out at? Are you not a bunch of sinners and liars, 5You who burn with lust, as you worship your idols under every green tree, and sacrifice your children in ravines and under the clefts of the rocks? 6Your gods are the smooth stones from the valley stream; indeed, they are your lot. You even offer a drink offering, and a meal offering to them. Do you think I am pleased by this? 7You have set your bed upon a lofty and high mountain; even there you have offered sacrifices to idols. 8Behind the doors and the doorposts you have also set up your pagan symbols; for you have climbed into bed with these detestable pagan symbols, and you have opened wide your bed, and you have committed yourselves to those whose beds you loved. 9And you went to Molek with olive oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far and wide, and debased yourself, even descending into the realm of the dead. 10You wearied yourself in unending pursuit of your own way; and yet you never said, ‘This is hopeless!’ You have found renewed strength; and so, you never gave up. 11And whom have you dreaded or been afraid of, that you have not been honest with Me, and have not regarded Me, nor taken this to heart? Is it because of My long silence that you do not fear Me? 12I will now expose your so-called good deeds; for they shall not benefit you. 13When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols come to your rescue. But a wind shall carry all those idols away, a mere breath will knock them down; but he who puts his trust in Me for refuge shall inherit the land, and possess My holy mountain,

14“And it shall be said, ‘Rebuild the road; clear the way, move any obstacles out of the way of My people.’ 15For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, Whose name is Holy; ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with those of contrite and humble spirit, to lift the spirits of the humble, and to relieve the sorrowing heart of the contrite ones. 16For I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry; that the very souls which I have created should not faint before Me. 17For I was angry at the iniquity of their greed, and I chastised them and hid Myself in My anger, as they went on backsliding in their willful ways. 18I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them, and I restore comforts to them who mourn. 19I will bring the fruit of 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, troubled sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and dirt. 21‘There is no peace’, says my God, ‘for the wicked.’”