| New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard 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 one perishes, and no one takes it to heart; faithful men are swept away, with no one realizing that the righteous one is swept away from the presence of evil. |
| 2For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. Idolatrous Worship Condemned | 2He will enter into peace-- they will rest on their beds-- everyone who lives uprightly. |
| 3“But you—come here, you witches’ children, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! | 3But come here, you sons of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute! |
| 4Whom do you mock, making faces and sticking out your tongues? You children of sinners and liars! | 4Who is it you are mocking? Who is it you are opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue at? Isn't it you, you rebellious children, you race of liars, |
| 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 green tree, who slaughter children in the wadis below 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 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? |
| 7You have committed adultery on every high mountain. There you have worshiped idols and have been unfaithful to me. | 7You have placed your bed on a high and lofty mountain; you also went up there to offer sacrifice. |
| 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. | 8You have set up your memorial behind the door and doorpost. For away from Me, you stripped, went up, and made your bed wide, and you have made a bargain for yourself with them. You have loved their bed; you have gazed on their genitals. |
| 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 the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your couriers far away and sent them down even to Sheol. |
| 10You grew weary in your search, but you never gave up. Desire gave you renewed strength, and you did not grow weary. | 10You became weary on your many journeys, but you did not say, "I give up!" You found a 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? | 11Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn't remember Me or take it to heart? Have I not kept silent for such a long time and 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--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 collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry all of them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes 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.” | 14He said," Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle from My people's way." |
| 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 the High and Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy says this:" I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed. |
| 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, and I will not always be angry; for then the spirit would grow weak before Me, even the breath of man, which 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. | 17Because of his sinful greed I was angry, so I struck him; I was angry and hid; but he went on 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 lead 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. | 19creating words of praise." The LORD says," Peace, peace to the one who is far or near, and I will heal him. |
| 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 waters churn up mire and muck. |
| 21There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God. | 21There is no peace for the wicked," says my God." |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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