New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
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 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 and they enter into peace; those who walk uprightly will rest on their couches.
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They will find peace; those who walk in straight paths will find rest on their burial beds.
3 But as for you, come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a whore.
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Come here, you children of sorcery, offspring of adultery and prostitution!
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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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 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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who console yourselves with idols under every green tree, who slaughter children in the valleys, under the rocky cliffs?
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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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 Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
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On a very high mountain you made your bed. You went up there to offer a sacrifice.
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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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 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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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 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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Worn out by all your efforts, yet you wouldn't say, "This is useless." You found new strength; therefore, you weren't tired.
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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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 I will concede your righteousness and your works, but they will not help you.
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I will bring evidence about your righteousness and your actions; they won't help you.
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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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 It shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."
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It will be said: "Survey, survey; build a road! Remove barriers from my people's road!"
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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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 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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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 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 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 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 their ways, but I will heal them. I will guide them, and reward them with comfort. And for those who mourn,
19 Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal 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 the wicked are like the tossing sea that cannot keep still; its waters toss up mire and mud.
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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, says my God, for the wicked.
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There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible