Fearing the Lord ¹  is the beginning ²  of moral knowledge, ³  but ⁴  fools ⁵  despise ⁶  wisdom and instruction. ⁷ 

So tell them: ‘This is a nation that has not obeyed the Lord their God and has not accepted correction. Faithfulness is nowhere to be found in it. These people do not even profess it anymore. ¹ 

Your ancestors, ¹  however, did not listen to me or pay any attention to me. They stubbornly refused ²  to pay attention or to respond to any discipline.’

Listen to my instruction ¹  so that you may be wise, ²  and do not neglect it.

For I, the Lord, affirm ¹  that I will be with you and will rescue you. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you, but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished.” ² 

Besides, we have experienced discipline from ¹  our earthly fathers ²  and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? ³ 

“‘If in spite of these things ¹  you do not allow yourselves to be disciplined and you walk in hostility against me, ² 

The one who refuses correction despises himself, ¹  but whoever hears ²  reproof acquires understanding. ³ 

A rod and reproof ¹  impart ²  wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained ³  brings shame ⁴  to his mother. ⁵ 

My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. ¹  My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.’” ² 

My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. ¹  My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.’” ² 

and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, “My father imposed heavy demands on you; ¹  I will make them even heavier. ²  My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.” ³ 

I will throw my bird net over them while they are flying, I will bring them down like birds in the sky; I will discipline them when I hear them flocking together.

I will walk in hostile rage against you ¹  and I myself will also discipline you seven times on account of your sins.

“It did no good for me to punish your people. They did not respond to such correction. You slaughtered your prophets like a voracious lion.” ¹ 

When I please, ¹  I will discipline them; ²  I will gather nations together to attack them, ³  to bind them in chains ⁴  for their two sins. ⁵ 

If you stop listening to ¹  instruction, my child, you will stray ²  from the words of knowledge.

Beatings and wounds cleanse away ¹  evil, and floggings cleanse ²  the innermost being. ³ 

Apply ¹  your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge.

If you strike ¹  him with the rod, you will deliver him ²  from death. ³