| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. | 1The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are swept away, while no one considers that the righteous are guided from the presence of evil. |
| 2For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. Idolatrous Worship Condemned | 2Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death. |
| 3“But you—come here, you witches’ children, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! | 3“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! |
| 4Whom do you mock, making faces and sticking out your tongues? You children of sinners and liars! | 4Whom are you mocking? At whom do you snarl and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit, |
| 5You worship your idols with great passion beneath the oaks and under every green tree. You sacrifice your children down in the valleys, among the jagged rocks in the cliffs. | 5who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? |
| 6Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys. You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings. They, not I, are your inheritance. Do you think all this makes me happy? | 6Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these? |
| 7You have committed adultery on every high mountain. There you have worshiped idols and have been unfaithful to me. | 7On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices. |
| 8You have put pagan symbols on your doorposts and behind your doors. You have left me and climbed into bed with these detestable gods. You have committed yourselves to them. You love to look at their naked bodies. | 8Behind the door and doorpost you have set up your memorial. Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed; you climbed up and opened it wide. And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved; you have gazed upon their nakedness. |
| 9You have gone to Molech with olive oil and many perfumes, sending your agents far and wide, even to the world of the dead. | 9You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself. |
| 10You grew weary in your search, but you never gave up. Desire gave you renewed strength, and you did not grow weary. | 10You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak. |
| 11“Are you afraid of these idols? Do they terrify you? Is that why you have lied to me and forgotten me and my words? Is it because of my long silence that you no longer fear me? | 11Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? |
| 12Now I will expose your so-called good deeds. None of them will help you. | 12I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you. |
| 13Let’s see if your idols can save you when you cry to them for help. Why, a puff of wind can knock them down! If you just breathe on them, they fall over! But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.” God Forgives the Repentant | 13When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.” |
| 14God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.” | 14And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.” |
| 15The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. | 15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. |
| 16For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made. | 16For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made. |
| 17I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way. | 17I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept turning back to the desires of his heart. |
| 18I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, | 18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, |
| 19bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the LORD, who heals them. | 19bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.” |
| 20“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. | 20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. |
| 21There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God. | 21“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” |
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