Read the Bible

¹ God's faithful people
are dragged off and killed,
    and no one even cares.
Evil sweeps them away,
² but in death they find peace
    for obeying God.^[a]

³ You people are unfaithful!
You go to fortunetellers,
    and you worship idols.
Now pay close attention!
⁴ Who are you making fun of?
    Who are you sneering at?
Look how your sins
    have made fools of you.

⁵ All you think about is sex
under those green trees
    where idols are worshiped.
You sacrifice your children
on altars built in valleys
    under rocky slopes.
⁶ You have chosen to worship
    idols made of stone;^[b]
you have given them offerings
of wine and grain.
    Should I be pleased?

⁷ You have spread out your beds
on the tops of high mountains,
    where you sacrifice to idols.
⁸ Even in your homes
you have placed pagan symbols
    all around your huge beds.
Yes, you have rejected me,
sold yourselves to your lovers,
    and gone to bed with them.^[c]

⁹ You smear on olive oil
and all kinds of perfume
    to worship the god Molech.^[d]
You even seek advice
    from spirits of the dead.
¹⁰ Though you tired yourself out
by running after idols,
    you refused to stop.
Your desires were so strong
    that they kept you going.

¹¹ Did you forget about me
    and become unfaithful
because you were more afraid
    of someone else?
Have I been silent so long^[e]
    that you no longer fear me?
¹² You think you're so good,
    but I'll point out the truth.
¹³ Ask your idols to save you
    when you are in trouble.
Be careful though—
it takes only a faint breath
    to blow them over.
But if you come to me
    for protection,
this land and my holy mountain
    will always belong to you.

¹⁴ The Lord says,
"Clear the road!
    Get it ready for my people."

¹⁵ Our holy God lives forever
in the highest heavens,
    and this is what he says:
Though I live high above
    in the holy place,
I am here to help those
who are humble
    and depend only on me.

¹⁶ My people, I won't stay angry
    and keep on accusing you.
After all, I am your Creator.
I don't want you to give up
    in complete despair.
¹⁷ Your greed made me furious.
That's why I punished you
    and refused to be found,
while you kept returning
    to your old sinful ways.

¹⁸ I know what you are like!
But I will heal you, lead you,
    and give you comfort,
until those who are mourning
¹⁹     start singing my praises.^[f]
No matter where you are,
I, the Lord, will heal you^[g]
    and give you peace.

²⁰ The wicked are a restless sea
    tossing up mud.
²¹ But I, the Lord, have promised
that none who are evil
    will live in peace.