Idolatry Is Adultery
1 The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil.
1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
1 The righteous man perishes, and no man (A)takes it to heart;And devout men are taken away, while no one understands.For the righteous man is taken away from (B)evil,
1 The righteous one perishes,and no one takes it to heart;faithful men are swept away,with no one realizingthat the righteous one is swept awayfrom the presence(a) 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.
Pagan Religion Denounced
4 At 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,
4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
4 “Against whom do you jest?Against whom do you open wide your mouthAnd stick out your tongue?Are you not children of (G)rebellion,Offspring of deceit,
4 Who is it you are mocking?Who is it you are opening your mouthand sticking out your tongue at?Isn’t it you, you rebellious children,(A)you race of liars,
4 Whom 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,
5 you who practice ritual sex under the oaks and every green tree, who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs.
5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
5 Who inflame yourselves among the (c)(H)oaks,(I)Under every luxuriant tree,Who (J)slaughter the children in the (d)ravines,Under the clefts of the crags?
5 who burn with lust among the oaks,under every green tree,(B)who slaughter children in the wadisbelow the clefts of the rocks?(C)
5 you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every spreading tree, who slaughter your children in the ravines, under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Among 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 stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
6 “Among the (e)(K)smooth stones of the (f)ravineIs your portion, (g)they are your lot;Even to them you have (L)poured out a drink offering,You have made a grain offering.Shall I (h)(M)relent concerning these things?
6 Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi;indeed, they are your lot.You have even poured out a drink offering to them;you have offered a grain offering;should I be satisfied with these?
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?
7 On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed; you go up there to offer sacrifices.
7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
7 “Upon a (N)high and lofty mountainYou have (O)made your bed.You also went up there to offer sacrifice.
7 You have placed your bedon a high and lofty mountain;(D)you also went up there to offer sacrifice.
7 "You have made your bed on a high and lofty mountain, and you went up to offer sacrifice there.
8 Behind 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.
8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.
8 “Behind the door and the doorpostYou have set up your sign;Indeed, far removed from Me, you have (P)uncovered yourself,And have gone up and made your bed wide.And you have made an agreement for yourself with them,You have loved their (i)bed,You have looked on their (j)manhood.
8 You have set up your memorialbehind the door and doorpost.For away from Me, you stripped,went up, and made your bed wide,(E)and you have made a bargain(d) for yourself with them.You have loved their bed;you have gazed on their genitals.(e)(f)
8 Behind 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.
9 You 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.
9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
9 “You have journeyed to the king with oilAnd increased your perfumes;You have (Q)sent your envoys a great distanceAnd made them go down to (k)Sheol.
9 You went to the king with oiland multiplied your perfumes;you sent your couriers far away(F)and sent them down even to Sheol.
9 You went to Molech with olive oil and increased your perfumes; you sent your ambassadors far away, you sent them down even to Sheol itself!
10 Because 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.
10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.
10 “You were tired out by the length of your road,Yet you did not say, ‘(R)It is hopeless.’You found (l)renewed strength,Therefore you did not (m)faint.
10 You became weary on your many journeys,but you did not say, “I give up!”(G)You found a renewal of your strength;(g)therefore you did not grow weak.
10 You 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.
11 Whom 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 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
11 “Of (S)whom were you worried and fearfulWhen you lied, and did (T)not remember Me(n)Nor (U)give Me a thought?Was I not silent even for a long timeSo you do not fear Me?
11 Who was it you dreaded and feared,so that you lied and didn’t remember Meor take it to heart?Have I not kept silent for such a long time(h)(H)and you do not fear 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?"
12 I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.
12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
12 I will expose your righteousness,and your works—they will not profit you.
12 "I will denounce your righteousness and your works, for your collections of idols will not benefit you.
13 When 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."
13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;
13 “When you cry out, (X)let your collection of idols deliver you.But the wind will carry all of them up,And a breath will take them away.But he who (Y)takes refuge in Me will (Z)inherit the landAnd will (AA)possess My holy mountain.”
13 When you cry out,let your collection of idols deliver you!The wind will carry all of them off,a breath will take them away.But whoever takes refuge in Mewill inherit the land(I)and possess My holy mountain.(J)
13 When 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.
Peace For The Contrite
14 He says, "Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!"
14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
14 And it will be said,“(AB)Build up, build up, prepare the way,Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.”
14 He said,“Build it up, build it up, prepare the way,remove every obstacle from My people’s way.”(K)
14 And one has said: "Build up! Build up the road! Prepare the highway! Remove every obstacle from my people's way.'
15 For 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 thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
15 For thus says the (AC)high and exalted OneWho (o)(AD)lives forever, whose name is Holy,“I (AE)dwell on a high and holy place,And also with the (AF)contrite and lowly of spiritIn order to (AG)revive the spirit of the lowlyAnd to revive the heart of the contrite.
15 For the High and Exalted Onewho lives forever, whose name is Holy(L) says this:“I live in a high and holy place,and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit,(M)to revive the spirit of the lowlyand revive the heart of the oppressed.(N)
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.
16 For 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.
16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
16 “For I will (AH)not contend forever,(AI)Nor will I always be angry;For the spirit would grow faint before Me,And the (AJ)breath of those whom I have made.
16 For I will not accuse you forever,and I will not always be angry;(O)for then the spirit would grow weak before Me,even the breath of man, which I have made.
16 For 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.
17 I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.
17 “Because of the iniquity of his (AK)unjust gain I was angry and struck him;I hid My face and was angry,And he went on (AL)turning away, in the way of his heart.
17 Because of his sinful greed I was angry,(P)so I struck him; I was angry and hid;(i)but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.
17 Because 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.
18 I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
18 “I have seen his ways, but I will (AM)heal him;I will (AN)lead him and (AO)restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;I will lead him and restore comfortto him and his mourners,(Q)
18 I've seen his ways, yet I will heal him, and restore for him comfort to him and for those who mourn for him
19 I 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.
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
19 Creating the (p)(AP)praise of the lips.(AQ)Peace, peace to him who is (AR)far and to him who is near,”Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.”
19 creating words of praise.”(j)(R)The Lord says,“Peace, peace to the one who is far or near,(S)and I will heal him.
19 when 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.
20 But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
20 But the (AS)wicked are like the tossing sea,For it cannot be quiet,And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
20 But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,(T)for it cannot be still,and its waters churn up mire and muck.
20 But the wicked are tossed like the sea; for it is not able to keep still, and its waters toss up mire and mud.