New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 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.
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The righteous person perishes, and no one takes it to heart. Loyal people are gathered together, and no one understands that because of evil the righteous one passed away.
2 For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.
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They will find peace; those who walk in straight paths will find rest on their burial beds.
3 “But you—come here, you witches’ children, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
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Come here, you children of sorcery, offspring of adultery and prostitution!
4 Whom do you mock, making faces and sticking out your tongues? You children of sinners and liars!
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Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Aren't you children of rebellion, offspring of lies,
5 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.
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who console yourselves with idols under every green tree, who slaughter children in the valleys, under the rocky cliffs?
6 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?
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You belong with the smooth talkers in the valley; they, they are your lot. For them you poured out a drink offering, and presented a grain offering. Should I condone these things?
7 You have committed adultery on every high mountain. There you have worshiped idols and have been unfaithful to me.
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On a very high mountain you made your bed. You went up there to offer a sacrifice.
8 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.
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Behind the door and the doorpost you placed your symbols. You abandoned me and lay down, making room in your bed and making deals for yourself with them. You loved their bed; you saw their nakedness.
9 You have gone to Molech with olive oil and many perfumes, sending your agents far and wide, even to the world of the dead.
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You went down to Molech with oil, and you slathered on your ointments; you sent your messengers far away, sent them down to the underworld.
10 You grew weary in your search, but you never gave up. Desire gave you renewed strength, and you did not grow weary.
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Worn out by all your efforts, yet you wouldn't say, "This is useless." You found new strength; therefore, you weren't tired.
11 “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?
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Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied, didn't remember me or give me a thought? Isn't it because I was silent and closed my eyes that you stopped fearing me?
12 Now I will expose your so-called good deeds. None of them will help you.
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I will bring evidence about your righteousness and your actions; they won't help you.
13 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.”
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When you cry out, let those things you've gathered save you! The wind will lift them all; one breath will take them away. but those taking refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.
14 God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.”
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It will be said: "Survey, survey; build a road! Remove barriers from my people's road!"
15 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.
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The one who is high and lifted up, who lives forever, whose name is holy, says: I live on high, in holiness, and also with the crushed and the lowly, reviving the spirit of the lowly, reviving the heart of those who have been crushed.
16 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.
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I won't always accuse, nor will I be enraged forever. It is my own doing that their spirit is exhausted— I gave them breath!
17 I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way.
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I was enraged about their illegal profits; I struck them; in rage I withdrew from them. Yet they went on wandering wherever they wanted.
18 I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn,
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I have seen their ways, but I will heal them. I will guide them, and reward them with comfort. And for those who mourn,
19 bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the LORD, who heals them.
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I will create reason for praise: utter prosperity to those far and near, and I will heal them, says the LORD.
20 “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.
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But the wicked are like the churning sea that can't keep still. They churn up from their waters muck and mud.
21 There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.
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There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible