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¹ The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].² He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walks in his uprightness.

³ But draw near here, you sons of the psychic, the seed of the adulterer and the prostitute.⁴ Against whom do you sport yourselves? against whom do you make a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,⁵ you that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?⁶ Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; even to them you have poured a drink-offering, you have offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?⁷ On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.⁸ And behind the doors and the posts you have set up your memorial: for you have uncovered [yourself] to other than me, and have gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and you made a covenant with them: you have loved their bed, you have looked at the hand.⁹ And you went to the king with oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and debased yourself even to Sheol.¹⁰ You were wearied with the length of your way; yet you didn't say, It is in vain: you found a quickening of your strength; therefore you were not faint.¹¹ And of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and haven't remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? haven't I held my peace even of long time, and you don't fear me?¹² I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you.

¹³ When you cry, let those that you have gathered deliver you; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that takes refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.¹⁴ And he will say, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.¹⁶ For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.

¹⁷ For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and smote him; I hid [my face] and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.¹⁸ I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.¹⁹ I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, says Yahweh; and I will heal him.²⁰ But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.²¹ There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.