For this is no idle word for you – it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”

He followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat and encouraged Israel to sin; ¹  they angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. ² 

I replied, “How long, sovereign master?” He said, “Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated,

For a fool speaks disgraceful things; ¹  his mind plans out sinful deeds. ²  He commits godless deeds ³  and says misleading things about the Lord; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite ⁴  and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. ⁵ 

You will eat, but not be satisfied. Even if you have the strength ¹  to overtake some prey, ²  you will not be able to carry it away; ³  if you do happen to carry away something, I will deliver it over to the sword.

For the household gods ¹  have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd. ² 

I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, ¹  whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.

Then ¹  I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” ² 

Will your idle talk ¹  reduce people to silence, ²  and will no one rebuke ³  you when you mock? ⁴ 

He has neither children nor descendants ¹  among his people, no survivor in those places he once stayed. ² 

to cause it to rain on an uninhabited land, ¹  a desert where there are no human beings, ² 

Everyone rejects God; ¹  they are all morally corrupt. ²  None of them does what is right, ³  not even one!

Take note of my brief lifespan! ¹  Why do you make all people so mortal? ² 

Carrying out a wicked scheme ¹  is enjoyable ²  to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment. ³ 

Like a gold ring ¹  in a pig’s snout ²  is ³  a beautiful woman who rejects ⁴  discretion. ⁵ 

The lazy person does not roast ¹  his prey, but personal possessions ²  are precious to the diligent.

There is one who pretends to be rich ¹  and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor ²  and yet possesses great wealth. ³ 

The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, ¹  but the belly of the wicked lacks food. ² 

Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, ¹  but one who has understanding ²  follows an upright course. ³ 

A laborer’s ¹  appetite ²  works on his behalf, ³  for his hunger ⁴  urges him to work. ⁵