Israel's Futile Idolatry
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The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; 1devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
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Whom are you mocking? Against whom 5do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of 6transgression, 7the offspring of deceit,
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you who burn with lust among 8the oaks,a under every green tree, 9who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
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Among the smooth stones of 10the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?
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Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, 12you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, 13you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.b
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You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; 14you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol.
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You were wearied with the length of your way, 15but you did not say, "It is hopeless"; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.c
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16Whom did you dread and fear, 17so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? 18Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?
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I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you.
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19When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. 20But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit 21my holy mountain.
Comfort for the Contrite
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And it shall be said, 22"Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."
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For thus says 23the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is 24Holy: 25"I dwell in the high and holy place, and also 26with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, 27to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
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28For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
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Because of the iniquity of his 29unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
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I have seen his ways, 30but I will heal him; I will lead him 31and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
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32creating 33the fruit of the lips. 34Peace, peace, 35to the far and to the near," says the LORD, 36"and I will heal him.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)