| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil. | 1"Also the righteous are perishing, but no one takes it to heart; devout people are taken away, while no one understands that the righteous person is taken away from calamity. |
| 2Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace; they rest on their beds. | 2Then he enters into peace, and they'll rest on his couches, each one living righteously. |
| 3But approach, you sons of omen readers, you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes! | 3"But as for you, come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! |
| 4At whom are you laughing? At whom are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue? You are the children of rebels, the offspring of liars, | 4Whom are you mocking? And against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of lies, |
| 5you who practice ritual sex under the oaks and every green tree, who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs. | 5you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every spreading tree, who slaughter your children in the ravines, under the clefts of the rocks? |
| 6Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love; they, they are the object of your devotion. You pour out liquid offerings to them, you make an offering. Because of these things I will seek vengeance. | 6"Among the smooth stones of the ravines is your portion— there they are as your lot. To them you have poured out drink offerings; you have brought grain offerings. Should I be lenient over such things? |
| 7On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed; you go up there to offer sacrifices. | 7"You have made your bed on a high and lofty mountain, and you went up to offer sacrifice there. |
| 8Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols. Indeed, you depart from me and go up and invite them into bed with you. You purchase favors from them, you love their bed, and gaze longingly on their genitals. | 8Behind the doors and the doorposts you have set up your pagan sign." For in deserting me you have uncovered your bed— you have climbed up into it and have opened it wide. And you have made a pact for yourself with them; you have loved their bed, you have looked on their private parts. |
| 9You take olive oil as tribute to your king, along with many perfumes. You send your messengers to a distant place; you go all the way to Sheol. | 9You went to Molech with olive oil and increased your perfumes; you sent your ambassadors far away, you sent them down even to Sheol itself! |
| 10Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired, but you do not say, 'I give up.' You get renewed energy, so you don't collapse. | 10You grew tired with your many wanderings, but you wouldn't say: 'It is hopeless.' You found new strength for your desire, and so you did not falter. |
| 11Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me. | 11"Whom did you so dread— and while you feared me — that you lied, and you did not remember me, and did not lay to heart these things? Haven't I remained silent for a long time, and still you don't fear me?" |
| 12I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you. | 12"I will denounce your righteousness and your works, for your collections of idols will not benefit you. |
| 13When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain." | 13When you cry out, let your collection deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, and a mere breath will sweep them all away." "But whoever takes refuge in me will possess the land, and will inherit my holy mountain. |
| 14He says, "Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!" | 14And one has said: 'Build up! Build up the road! Prepare the highway! Remove every obstacle from my people's way.' |
| 15For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: "I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged. | 15"For this is what the high and lofty One says, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "He lives in the height and in holiness, and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. |
| 16For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man's spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created. | 16For I won't accuse forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the human spirit would grow faint before me— even the souls that I have created. |
| 17I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn. | 17Because of his wicked greed I was angry, so I punished him; and I hid my face, and was angry— but he kept turning back to his stubborn will. |
| 18I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn. | 18I've seen his ways, yet I will heal him, and restore for him comfort to him and for those who mourn for him |
| 19I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby," says the LORD, "and I will heal them. | 19when I create the fruit of the lips: Peace to the one who is far away or near," says the LORD, "and I'll heal him. |
| 20But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand. | 20But the wicked are tossed like the sea; for it is not able to keep still, and its waters toss up mire and mud. |
| 21There will be no prosperity," says my God, "for the wicked." | 21"Yet there is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." |
|
