Idolatry is Adultery

¹ The righteous one perishes, and there is no one who takes¹ it to heart. And men of faithfulness are gathered, while there is no one who understands, for the righteous is gathered from the presence of wickedness.

1. Or “sets”

² he enters into peace; they will rest on their beds, walking straight ahead of him.

³ “But¹ you, come near here, you children of a soothsayer, offspring of an adulterer and she who commits fornication.

1. Or “And”

⁴ At whom do you make fun? At whom do you ⌞open⌟¹ your mouth and ⌞stick out⌟² your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deception,

1. Literally “widen”
2. Literally “make long”

⁵ who burn with lust among the oaks, under every leafy tree, who slaughter children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

⁶ Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; they, they are your lot; indeed, to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a food offering. Shall I relent concerning these things?

⁷ You have set your bed upon a high and lofty mountain; indeed, you went up there to slaughter sacrifice.

⁸ And you have set your symbol behind the door and the doorpost; for you depart¹ from me, and you go up; you make your bed wide, and you ⌞make a deal with⌟² them, you have loved their bed; you have seen their ⌞genitals⌟.³

1. The reading tradition (Qere) has “uncover,” which makes no sense in context, but with different vowels it would be “depart”
2. Literally “cut off for yourself from”
3. Literally “hand”

⁹ And you climbed down to the king with oil, and you made your perfumes numerous, and you sent your envoys ⌞far away⌟,¹ and you ⌞sent down deep⌟² to Sheol.

1. Literally “to from far”
2. Literally “humiliated”

¹⁰ You grow weary by the greatness of your way, but you did not say, ‘Despairing!’ You found the ⌞renewal⌟¹ of your ⌞strength⌟,² therefore you do not grow weak.

1. Literally “life”
2. Literally “hand;” compare the “hand” in verse 8

¹¹ And of whom were you afraid and feared, that you deceived and did not remember me? Did you not place it on your heart? Have I not been silent, even from long ago, and so you do not fear me?

¹² I myself will declare your righteousness and your works, but¹ they will not benefit you.

1. Or “and”

Peace for the Contrite

¹³ When ⌞you cry⌟,¹ let your collection deliver you, and the wind will carry all of them away; a breath will take them away. But² he who takes refuge in me shall take possession of the land, and he shall inherit my ⌞holy mountain⌟.”³

1. Literally “your crying”
2. Or “And”
3. Literally “mountain of holiness “

¹⁴ And one shall say, “Build up, build up! Clear the way! Remove the obstacles¹ from the way of my people!”

1. Hebrew “obstacle”

¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy: “I reside in a high and holy place, and with the ⌞contrite⌟¹ and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the ⌞contrite⌟.²

1. Literally “crushed”
2. Literally “crushed”

¹⁶ For I will not attack forever, and I will not be angry forever, for the spirit will grow faint before me, and the breaths that I myself I have made.

¹⁷ I was angry because of his sin of gain, and I struck him; I hid and I was angry, but¹ he walked apostate, in the ways² of his heart.

1. Or “and”
2. Hebrew “way”

¹⁸ I have seen his ways, but¹ I will heal him; and I will lead him and give him and his mourners comfort as a recompense,

1. Or “and”

¹⁹ creating fruit of lips. Peace, peace to the far and near,” says Yahweh, “and I will heal him.

²⁰ But¹ the wicked are like the churning sea, that is not able to keep quiet, and its waters toss up mire and mud.

1. Or “And”

²¹ There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”