1The righteous one perishes, and no man (ish) lays it to heart; and men (ish) of kindness are gathered, with none understanding, that from before the evil the righteous is gathered.
2He enters into peace; they rest upon their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
3But you, draw near here, sons of the sorceress, seed of the adulterer, and her who played the harlot.
4Against whom do you make merry? Against whom do you open wide the mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
5you who inflame yourselves among the terebinths, under every green tree; who slaughter the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; even to them you have poured a drink offering, you have brought up a grain offering. Shall I be appeased over these?
7Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.
8And behind the door and the doorpost you have set your memorial; for apart from me you uncovered yourself, and went up; you made your bed wide, and cut a pact for yourself with them; you loved their bed, you gazed on the hand.
9And you journeyed to the king with oil, and multiplied your perfumes; and you sent your envoys far off, and debased yourself even to Sheol.
10In the greatness of your way you were wearied, yet you did not say, "It is hopeless"; you found the life (chai) of your hand, therefore you were not weak.
11And of whom were you anxious and afraid, that you lied, and did not remember me, nor lay it to your heart? Have I not held my peace, even from of old, and you do not fear me?
12I will declare your righteousness, and your works—they shall not profit you.
13When you cry out, let your collected ones deliver you; but a spirit (ruach) shall carry them all away, a vapor shall take them. But he who takes refuge in me shall inherit the land, and possess my holy mountain.
14And one shall say, "Cast up, cast up, clear the way, lift the stumbling block out of the way of my people."
15For thus says the high and lofty One who dwells in eternity, and Holy is his name: I dwell in the high and holy place, and with the contrite and lowly of spirit (ruach), to revive the spirit (ruach) of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be wroth; for the spirit (ruach) would faint before me, and the souls (neshamah) that I have made.
17For the iniquity of his unjust gain I was wroth, and I struck him; I hid myself and was wroth; but he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18I have seen his ways, and I will heal him; and I will lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
19Creating the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says YHWH; and I will heal him.
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.