Those who worship ¹  worthless idols ²  forfeit the mercy that could be theirs. ³ 

And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” ¹ 

For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, ¹  about our coming to you – it has not proven to be purposeless. ² 

It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. ¹  Yes, ²  he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep. ³ 

The fiery bellows of judgment burn fiercely. But there is too much dross to be removed. ¹  The process of refining them has proved useless. ²  The wicked have not been purged.

So I went to Perath and dug up ¹  the shorts from the place where I had buried them. I found ²  that they were ruined; they were good for nothing.

“Son of man, the house of Israel has become slag to me. All of them are like bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the furnace; ¹  they are the worthless slag of silver.

nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. ¹  Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan ²  that operates by faith.

Remind people ¹  of these things and solemnly charge them ²  before the Lord ³  not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. ⁴ 

“I wish that one of you would close the temple doors, ¹  so that you no longer would light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord who rules over all, “and I will no longer accept an offering from you.

There is ¹  the roaring of the lion ²  and the growling ³  of the young lion, but the teeth of the young lions are broken. ⁴ 

For he ¹  knows deceitful ²  men; when he sees evil, will he not ³  consider it? ⁴ 

Because ¹  you have closed their ²  minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them. ³ 

If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world ¹  do you continue this meaningless talk? ² 

So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; ¹  without knowledge he multiplies words.”

¹ “The wings of the ostrich ²  flap with joy, ³  but are they the pinions and plumage of a stork? ⁴ 

(41:1) ¹  See, his expectation is wrong, ²  he is laid low even at the sight of it. ³ 

They were unfaithful ¹  and acted as treacherously as ²  their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow. ³ 

You turn back ¹  his sword from the adversary, ²  and have not sustained him in battle. ³