New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.
1
Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die, no calamity can hurt them.
2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.
2
Those who live good lives find peace and rest in death.
3 “But you—come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
3
Come here to be judged, you sinners! You are no better than sorcerers, adulterers, and prostitutes.
4 Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars?
4
Who are you making fun of? Who are you liars jeering at?
5 You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags.
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.
6 The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent?
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?
7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices.
7
You go to the high mountains to offer sacrifices and have sex.
8 Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.
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.
9 You went to Molek with olive oil and increased your perfumes. You sent your ambassadors far away; you descended to the very realm of the dead!
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.
10 You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint.
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.
11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered me nor taken this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me?
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?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.
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.
13 When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.”
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."
14 And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
14
The Lord says, "Let my people return to me. Remove every obstacle from their path! Build the road and make it ready!
15 For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
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.
16 I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me— the very people I have created.
16
I gave my people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them forever.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways.
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.
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
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.
19 creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. “And I will heal them.”
19
I offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.
20
But evil people are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing filth and muck.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
21
There is no safety for sinners," says the Lord.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.