Dual Panel1THE RIGHTEOUS man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful {and} devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright {and} godly person is taken away from the calamity {and} evil to come [even through wickedness].
2He [in death] enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks straight {and} in his uprightness.
3But come close, you sons of a sorceress [nursed in witchcraft and superstition], you offspring of an adulterer and a harlot.
4Against whom do you make sport {and} take your delight? Against whom do you open wide your mouth and put out your tongue? Are you not yourselves the children of transgression, the offspring of deceit--
5You who burn with lust [inflaming yourselves with idols] among the oaks, under every green tree, you who slay the children [in sacrifice] in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?
6Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they [the idols] are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have offered a cereal offering. Should I be quiet in spite of all these things [and leave them unpunished--bearing them with patience]?
7Upon a lofty and high mountain you have openly {and} shamelessly set your [idolatrous and adulterous] bed; even there you went up to offer sacrifice [in spiritual unfaithfulness to your divine Husband].
8Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your [idol] symbol [as a substitute for the Scripture text God ordered]. Deserting Me, you have uncovered and ascended and enlarged your bed; and you have made a [fresh] bargain for yourself with [the adulterers], and you loved their bed, where you saw [a beckoning hand or a passion-inflaming image].
9And you went to the king [of foreign lands with gifts] {or} to Molech [the god] with oil and increased your perfumes {and} ointments; you sent your messengers far off and debased yourself even to Sheol (Hades) [symbol of an abysmal depth of degradation].
10You were wearied with the length of your way [in trying to find rest and satisfaction in alliances apart from the true God], yet you did not say, There is no result {or} profit. You found quickened strength; therefore you were not faint {or} heartsick [or penitent].
11Of whom have you been so afraid and in dread that you lied {and} were treacherous and did not [seriously] remember Me, did not even give Me a thought? Have I not been silent, even for a long time, and so you do not fear Me?
12I will expose your [pretended] righteousness and your doings, but they will not help you.
13When you cry out, let your [rabble] collection of idols deliver you! But the wind shall take them all, a breath shall carry them away. But he who takes refuge in Me shall possess the land [Judea] and shall inherit My holy mountain [Zion, also the heavenly inheritance and the spiritual Zion].
14And the word of One shall go forth, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way! Take up the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.
15For thus says the high and lofty One--He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].
16For I will not contend forever, neither will I be angry always, for [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would faint {and} be consumed before Me, and [My purpose in] creating the souls of men would be frustrated.
17Because of the iniquity of his [Judah's] covetousness {and} unjust gain I was angry and smote him. I hid my face and was angry, and he went on turning away {and} backsliding in the way of his [own willful] heart.
18I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him also and will recompense him and restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him.
19Peace, peace, to him who is far off [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near! says the Lord; I create the fruit of his lips, and I will heal him [make his lips blossom anew with speech in thankful praise].
20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
21There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.