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devout men are swept away,
and no one recognizes,
that because of evil
the righteous are swept away.
2 He will enter into peace;
they will come to their final resting place—
those who walk in uprightness.
3 “But come here, you sons of the sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
4 Who is it that you are mocking?
Against whom do you open your mouth,
and stick out your tongue at?
Are you not children of transgression,
the offspring of liars?
5 You burn with lust among the oaks,
and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of rocks!
6 Your portion is among the smooth stones of the ravines;
they, they are your lot.
You even poured out a drink offering to them,
and offered grain offerings;
should I be satisfied with this?
7 “On a high and lofty mountain you made your bed;
there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the doors and the doorposts
you have set up your pagan symbols.
Abandoning Me, you have uncovered your bed,
you opened it wide and climbed up into it.
You have made a pact with them;
you loved their bed,
and there you gazed on their nakedness.
9 You journeyed to Molech with oil,
and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away,
and descended down to Sheol!
10 You grew weary from your many journeys,
yet you did not say, ‘It is futile’.
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not weaken.
11 “Whom did you dread and fear so much,
that you have lied and not remembered Me,
or taken this to heart?
Is it because I have held My peace for so long,
that you do not fear Me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,
for they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out,
let your collection of idols deliver you!
The wind will carry them all off,
a mere breath will take them away.
But he who takes refuge in Me
will inherit the land,
and possess My holy mountain.”
14 It will be said:
“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way!
Take the obstacles out of the way of My people.”
15 For this is what the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says:
“I dwell in a high and holy place,
yet also with him who is contrite and lowly of spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not accuse you forever,
neither will I always be angry;
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before Me,
even the breath of man, which I have made.
17 “Yet I was angered by his sinful greed,
so I struck him, and hid My face in anger,
but he went on after the inclinations of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him,
and to his mourners,
19 creating praise on their lips.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,”
says the Lord.
“And I will heal him.
20 “But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,
which cannot rest,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”