The Darby Translation DBY
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from before the evil.
1
Righteous people die, and no one cares. Loyal people are taken away, and no one understands. Righteous people are spared when evil comes.
2 He entereth into peace: they rest in their beds, [each one] that hath walked in his uprightness.
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When peace comes, everyone who has lived honestly will rest on his own bed.
3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.
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But you--come here, you children of witches, you descendants of adulterers and prostitutes!
4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom do ye make a wide mouth, [and] draw out the tongue? Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
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Whom are you making fun of? Whom are you making a face at? Whom are you sticking out your tongue at? Aren't you rebellious children, descendants of liars?
5 inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?
5
You burn with lust under oak trees and under every large tree. You slaughter children in the valleys and under the cracks in the rocks.
6 Among the smooth [stones] of the torrent is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured out a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be comforted myself as to these things?
6
Your idols are among the smooth stones in the ravine. They are your destiny. You have given them wine offerings and sacrificed grain offerings to them. Do you think I am pleased with all this?
7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither didst thou go up to offer sacrifice.
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You've made your bed on a high and lofty mountain. You've gone to offer sacrifices there.
8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for apart from me, thou hast uncovered thyself, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and hast made agreement with them; thou lovedst their bed, thou sawest their nakedness.
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You've set up your idols beside doors and doorposts. You've uncovered yourself to the idols. You've distanced yourself from me. You've made your bed with them. You've made a deal with those you have pleasure with in bed. You've seen them naked.
9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst multiply thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers afar off, and didst debase thyself unto Sheol.
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You've journeyed to the king with perfumed oils and put on plenty of perfume. You've sent your ambassadors far away and sent them down to Sheol.
10 Thou wast wearied by the multitude of thy ways; [but] thou saidst not, It is of no avail. Thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not sick [of it].
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You've tired yourself out with many journeys. You didn't think that it was hopeless. You've found renewed strength, so you didn't faint.
11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor taken it to heart? Have not I even of long time held my peace, and thou fearest me not?
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Whom did you dread and fear so much that you lied to me? You haven't remembered me or cared about me. I've been silent for a long time. Is that why you don't fear me?
12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; and they shall not profit thee.
12
I'll tell you about your righteous ways and what you have done, but they won't help you.
13 When thou criest, let them that are gathered by thee deliver thee! But a wind shall carry them all away, a breath shall take them; but he that putteth his trust in me shall inherit the land, and possess my holy mountain.
13
When you cry for help, let your collection of idols save you. A wind will carry them all away. A breath will take them away. But whoever trusts me will possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.
14 And it shall be said, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-blocks out of the way of my people.
14
It will be said: "Build a road! Build a road! Prepare the way! Remove every obstacle in the way of my people!"
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, and whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy [place], and with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
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The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made.
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I will not accuse you forever. I will not be angry with you forever. Otherwise, the spirits, the lives of those I've made, would grow faint in my presence.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on backslidingly in the way of his heart.
17
I was angry because of their sinful greed, so I punished them, hid [from them], and remained angry. But they continued to be sinful.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him; and I will lead him, and will restore comforts unto him and to those of his that mourn.
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I've seen their [sinful] ways, but I'll heal them. I'll guide them and give them rest. I'll comfort them and their mourners.
19 I create the fruit of the lips: peace, peace to him [that is] afar off, and to him [that is] nigh, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.
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I'll create praise on their lips: "Perfect peace to those both far and near." "I'll heal them," says the LORD.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, and whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
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But the wicked are like the churning sea. It isn't quiet, and its water throws up mud and slime.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
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"There is no peace for the wicked," says my God.
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