## Evil Leaders Rebuked 

###### 1
The righteous man perishes, and no man puts it upon his heart; And men of lovingkindness are gathered away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is gathered away from evil, 

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He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, _Each one_ who walked in his upright way. 

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"But draw near, you sons of a soothsayer, Seed of an adulterer and a prostitute. 

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Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Seed of lying, 

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_Who_ inflame yourselves among the oaks, Under every green tree, Who slaughter the children in the ravines, Under the clefts of the cliffs? 

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Among the smooth _stones_ of the ravine Is your portion, they are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering; You have made a grain offering. Shall I relent concerning these things? 

###### 7
Upon a mountain lofty and lifted up You have made your bed. You also went up there to offer sacrifice. 

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Behind the door and the doorpost You have set up your memorial; Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself, And have gone up and made your bed wide, And you have cut _a covenant_ for yourself with them; You have loved their bed; You have looked on _their_ manhood. 

###### 9
You have journeyed to the king with oil And increased your perfumes; You have sent your envoys a great distance And made _them_ go down to Sheol. 

###### 10
You were tired out by the length of your road, _Yet_ you did not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewed strength; Therefore you did not faint. 

###### 11
"Of whom were you anxious and fearful When you lied and did not remember Me, Nor _even_ put _Me_ upon your heart? Was I not silent even for a long time So you do not fear Me? 

###### 12
I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, But they will not profit you. 

###### 13
When you cry out, let your collection _of idols_ deliver you. But the wind will lift all of them up, _And_ a breath will take _them away_. But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land And will possess My holy mountain." 

## Yahweh Revives the Spirit of the Lowly 

###### 14
And it will be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove _every_ stumbling block out of the way of My people." 

###### 15
For thus says the One high and lifted up Who dwells forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell _on_ a high and holy place, And _also_ with the crushed and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the crushed. 

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For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath _of those whom_ I have made. 

###### 17
Because of the iniquity of his greedy gain I was angry and struck him; I hid _My face_ and was angry, And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart. 

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I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and pay him and his mourners in full _with_ comfort, 

###### 19
Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near," Says Yahweh, "and I will heal him." 

###### 20
But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. 

###### 21
"There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."