The people of those nations ¹  are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless! ² 

I, the Lord, tell ¹  you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servant, for I am with you. Though I completely destroy all the nations where I scatter you, 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 

It is good for a man ¹  to bear ²  the yoke ³  while he is young. ⁴ 

Why should any living person ¹  complain when punished for his sins? ² 

with all humility and gentleness, ¹  with patience, bearing with ²  one another in love,

I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings.

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom ¹  with their self-imposed worship and false humility ²  achieved by an ³  unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence. ⁴ 

The godless at heart ¹  nourish anger, ²  they do not cry out even when he binds them.

Whether it is for punishment ¹  for his land, or whether it is for mercy, he causes it to find its mark. ² 

For they harass ¹  the one whom you discipline; ²  they spread the news about the suffering of those whom you punish. ³ 

The one who heeds instruction ¹  is on the way to ²  life, but the one who rejects ³  rebuke goes astray.

The one who stiffens his neck ¹  after numerous rebukes ²  will suddenly be destroyed ³  without remedy. ⁴ 

A servant ¹  cannot be corrected ²  by words, for although ³  he understands, there is no answer. ⁴ 

This is the reason ¹  I do my best to always ²  have a clear ³  conscience toward God and toward people. ⁴ 

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline ¹  or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline ¹  among you,

But reject those myths ¹  fit only for the godless and gullible, ²  and train yourself for godliness.

So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke ¹  that carries full authority. ²  Don’t let anyone look down ³  on you.

For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. ¹ 

to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; ¹  to perseverance, godliness;