“I ¹  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ²  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

And because the midwives feared God, he made ¹  households ²  for them.

When the Philistines saw he had no attendants, they gave him thirty groomsmen who kept him company. ¹ 

The righteous see their destruction ¹  and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, ²  saying,

I can count ¹  all my bones; my enemies ²  are gloating over me in triumph. ³ 

When the godly see this, they rejoice, and every sinner ¹  shuts his mouth.

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see,

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see,

Your eyes will see strange things, ¹  and your mind will speak perverse things.

Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, ¹  but my face must not be seen.” ² 

Let his own eyes see his destruction; ¹  let him drink of the anger of the Almighty.

Remain loyal to ¹  the Lord, you chosen people of his, ²  for his loyal followers ³  lack nothing!

But he will join his ancestors; ¹  they will never again see the light of day. ² 

Flog ¹  a scorner, and as a result the simpleton ²  will learn prudence; ³  correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge. ⁴ 

When the wicked increase, ¹  transgression increases, but the righteous will see ²  their downfall.

“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. ¹ 

None of the rest dared to join them, ¹  but the people held them in high honor. ² 

When the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will keep you alive. ¹ 

However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!

Then all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, as well as the army officers, left for ¹  Egypt, because they were afraid of what the Babylonians might do.