• Evil Leaders Rebuked

  • 1 The righteous man perishes, and no man puts it upon his heart; And men of lovingkindness are gathered away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is gathered away from evil,
  • 2 He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.
  • 3 “But draw near, you sons of a soothsayer, Seed of an adulterer and a prostitute.
  • 4 “Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Seed of lying,
  • 5 Who inflame yourselves among the oaks, Under every green tree, Who slaughter the children in the ravines, Under the clefts of the cliffs?
  • 6 “Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering; You have made a grain offering. Shall I relent concerning these things?
  • 7 “Upon a mountain lofty and lifted up You have made your bed. You also went up there to offer sacrifice.
  • 8 “Behind the door and the doorpost You have set up your memorial; Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself, And have gone up and made your bed wide, And you have cut a covenant for yourself with them; You have loved their bed; You have looked on their manhood.
  • 9 “You have journeyed to the king with oil And increased your perfumes; You have sent your envoys a great distance And made them go down to Sheol.
  • 10 “You were tired out by the length of your road, Yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewed strength; Therefore you did not faint.
  • 11 “Of whom were you anxious and fearful When you lied and did not remember Me, Nor even put Me upon your heart? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me?
  • 12 “I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, But they will not profit you.
  • 13 “When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will lift all of them up, And a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land And will possess My holy mountain.”

  • Yahweh Revives the Spirit of the Lowly

  • 14 And it will be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every stumbling block out of the way of My people.”
  • 15 For thus says the One high and lifted up Who dwells forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the crushed and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the crushed.
  • 16 “For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made.
  • 17 “Because of the iniquity of his greedy gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.
  • 18 “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and pay him and his mourners in full with comfort,
  • 19 Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,” Says Yahweh, “and I will heal him.”
  • 20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
  • 21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”