New International Version NIV
New Living Translation NLT
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.
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Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.
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For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.
3 “But you—come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
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“But you—come here, you witches’ children, you offspring of 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?
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Whom do you mock, making faces and sticking out your tongues? You children of sinners and liars!
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.
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You worship your idols with great passion beneath the oaks and under every green tree. You sacrifice your children down in the valleys, among the jagged rocks in the cliffs.
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?
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Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys. You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings. They, not I, are your inheritance. Do you think all this makes me happy?
7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices.
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You have committed adultery on every high mountain. There you have worshiped idols and have been unfaithful to me.
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.
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You have put pagan symbols on your doorposts and behind your doors. You have left me and climbed into bed with these detestable gods. You have committed yourselves to them. You love to look at their naked bodies.
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!
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You have gone to Molech with olive oil and many perfumes, sending your agents 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.
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You grew weary in your search, but you never gave up. Desire gave you renewed strength, and you did not grow weary.
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?
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“Are you afraid of these idols? Do they terrify you? Is that why you have lied to me and forgotten me and my words? Is it because of my long silence that you no longer fear me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you.
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Now I will expose your so-called good deeds. None of them will 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.”
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Let’s see if your idols can save you when you cry to them for help. Why, a puff of wind can knock them down! If you just breathe on them, they fall over! But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.”
14 And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
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God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.”
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.
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The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
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.
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For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made.
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.
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I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way.
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
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I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. 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.”
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bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the LORD, who heals them.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.
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“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
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There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.