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Israel’s Futile Idolatry

57The righteous perish,
   and no one takes it to heart;
the devout are taken away,
   while no one understands.
For the righteous are taken away from calamity,
²   and they enter into peace;
those who walk uprightly
   will rest on their couches.
³ But as for you, come here,
   you children of a sorceress,
   you offspring of an adulterer and a whore.^*
4 Whom are you mocking?
   Against whom do you open your mouth wide
   and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
   the offspring of deceit—
⁵ you that burn with lust among the oaks,
   under every green tree;
you that slaughter your children in the valleys,
   under the clefts of the rocks?
⁶ Among the smooth stones of the 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 be appeased for these things?
⁷ Upon a high and lofty mountain
   you have set your bed,
   and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
⁸ Behind the door and the doorpost
   you have set up your symbol;
for, in deserting me,^* you have uncovered your bed,
   you have gone up to it,
   you have made it wide;
and you have made a bargain for yourself with them,
   you have loved their bed,
   you have gazed on their nakedness.^*
9 You journeyed to Molech^* with oil,
   and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far away,
   and sent down even to Sheol.
¹⁰ You grew weary from your many wanderings,
   but you did not say, ‘It is useless.’
You found your desire rekindled,
   and so you did not weaken.