Idolatry is Adultery

57 The righteous one perishes, and there is no one who takesa 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.

2 he enters into peace;

they will rest on their beds,

walking straight ahead of him.

3 “Butb you, come near here, you children of a soothsayer,

offspring of an adulterer and she who commits fornication.

4 At whom do you make fun?

At whom do you ⌊open⌋c your mouth and ⌊stick out⌋d your tongue?

Are you not children of transgression,

offspring of deception,

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 departe from me, and you go up;

you make your bed wide, and you ⌊make a deal with⌋f them,

you have loved their bed; you have seen their ⌊genitals⌋.g

9 And you climbed down to the king with oil,

and you made your perfumes numerous,

and you sent your envoys ⌊far away⌋,h

and you ⌊sent down deep⌋i to Sheol.

10 You grow weary by the greatness of your way,

but you did not say, ‘Despairing!’

You found the ⌊renewal⌋j of your ⌊strength⌋,k

therefore you do not grow weak.

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,

butl they will not benefit you.

13 When ⌊you cry⌋,m let your collection deliver you,

and the wind will carry all of them away;

a breath will take them away.

Butn he who takes refuge in me shall take possession of the land,

and he shall inherit my ⌊holy mountain⌋.”o