Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die, no calamity can hurt them.
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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 Those who live good lives find peace and rest in death.
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He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.
3 Come here to be judged, you sinners! You are no better than sorcerers, adulterers, and prostitutes.
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But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the prostitute.
4 Who are you making fun of? Who are you liars jeering at?
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Against whom do you sport yourselves? against whom make you a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? Aren't you children of disobedience, a seed of falsehood,
5 You worship the fertility gods by having sex under those sacred trees of yours. You offer your children as sacrifices in the rocky caves near stream beds.
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you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6 You take smooth stones from there and worship them as gods. You pour out wine as offerings to them and bring them grain offerings. Do you think I am pleased with all this?
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Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; even to them have you poured a drink-offering, you have offered an offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?
7 You go to the high mountains to offer sacrifices and have sex.
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On a high and lofty mountain have you set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.
8 You set up your obscene idols just inside your front doors. You forsake me; you take off your clothes and climb in your large beds with your lovers, whom you pay to sleep with you. And there you satisfy your lust.
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Behind the doors and the posts have you set up your memorial: for you have uncovered [yourself] to another than me, and are gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them: you loved their bed where you saw it.
9 You put on your perfumes and ointments and go to worship the god Molech. To find gods to worship, you send messengers far and wide, even to the world of the dead.
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You went to the king with oil, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your ambassadors far off, and did debase yourself even to Sheol.
10 You wear yourselves out looking for other gods, but you never give up. You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow weak.
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You were wearied with the length of your way; yet you didn't say, It is in vain: you found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren't faint.
11 The Lord says, "Who are these gods that make you afraid, so that you tell me lies and forget me completely? Have you stopped honoring me because I have kept silent for so long?
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Of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not 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 You think that what you do is right, but I will expose your conduct, and your idols will not be able to help you.
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I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you.
13 When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A puff of wind will carry them off! But those who trust in me will live in the land and will worship me in my Temple."
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When you cry, let those who you have gathered deliver you; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.
14 The Lord says, "Let my people return to me. Remove every obstacle from their path! Build the road and make it ready!
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He will say, Cast you up, cast you up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.
15 "I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.
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For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 I gave my people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them forever.
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For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who I have made.
17 I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way.
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For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and struck him; I hid [my face] and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18 "I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn.
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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 offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people.
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I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near, says Yahweh; and I will heal him.
20 But evil people are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing filth and muck.
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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 safety for sinners," says the Lord.
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There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.