New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous are taken away from calamity,
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The upright man goes to his death, and no one gives a thought to it; and god-fearing men are taken away, and no one is troubled by it; for the upright man is taken away because of evil-doing, and goes into peace.
2 and they enter into peace; those who walk uprightly will rest on their couches.
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They are at rest in their last resting-places, every one going straight before him.
3 But as for you, come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a whore.
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But come near, you sons of her who is wise in secret arts, the seed of her who is false to her husband, and of the loose woman.
4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit—
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Of whom do you make sport? against whom is your mouth open wide and your tongue put out? are you not uncontrolled children, a false seed,
5 you that burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree; you that slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
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You who are burning with evil desire among the oaks, under every green tree; putting children to death in the valleys, under the cracks of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?
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Among the smooth stones of the valley is your heritage; they, even they, are your part: even to them have you made a drink offering and a meal offering. Is it possible for such things to be overlooked by me?
7 Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
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You have put your bed on a high mountain: there you went up to make your offering.
8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your symbol; for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have gazed on their nakedness.
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And on the back of the doors and on the pillars you have put your sign: for you have been false to me with another; you have made your bed wide, and made an agreement with them; you had a desire for their bed where you saw it
9 You journeyed to Molech with oil, and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far away, and sent down even to Sheol.
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And you went to Melech with oil and much perfume, and you sent your representatives far off, and went as low as the underworld.
10 You grew weary from your many wanderings, but you did not say, "It is useless." You found your desire rekindled, and so you did not weaken.
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You were tired with your long journeys; but you did not say, There is no hope: you got new strength, and so you were not feeble.
11 Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did not remember me or give me a thought? Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes, and so you do not fear me?
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And of whom were you in fear, so that you were false, and did not keep me in mind, or give thought to it? Have I not been quiet, keeping myself secret, and so you were not in fear of me?
12 I will concede your righteousness and your works, but they will not help you.
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I will make clear what your righteousness is like and your works; you will have no profit in them.
13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.
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Your false gods will not keep you safe in answer to your cry; but the wind will take them, they will be gone like a breath: but he who puts his hope in me will take the land, and will have my holy mountain as his heritage.
14 It shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."
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And I will say, Make it high, make it high, get ready the way, take the stones out of the way of my people.
15 For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
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For this is the word of him who is high and lifted up, whose resting-place is eternal, whose name is Holy: my resting-place is in the high and holy place, and with him who is crushed and poor in spirit, to give life to the spirit of the poor, and to make strong the heart of the crushed.
16 For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made.
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For I will not give punishment for ever, or be angry without end: for from me breath goes out; and I it was who made the souls.
17 Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry; I struck them, I hid and was angry; but they kept turning back to their own ways.
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I was quickly angry with his evil ways, and sent punishment on him, veiling my face in wrath: and he went on, turning his heart from me.
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and repay them with comfort, creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips.
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I have seen his ways, and I will make him well: I will give him rest, comforting him and his people who are sad.
19 Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.
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I will give the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is near and to him who is far off, says the Lord; and I will make him well.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea that cannot keep still; its waters toss up mire and mud.
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But the evil-doers are like the troubled sea, for which there is no rest, and its waters send up earth and waste.
21 There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
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There is no peace, says my God, for the evil-doers.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.