Judgments ¹  are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools.

You led us into a trap; ¹  you caused us to suffer. ² 

You make my enemies retreat; ¹  I destroy those who hate me.

You make my enemies retreat; ¹  I destroy those who hate me. ² 

let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually.” ¹ 

along with their entire bodies, ¹  their backs, their hands, and their wings. The wheels of the four of them were full of eyes all around.

“I will send my terror ¹  before you, and I will destroy ²  all the people whom you encounter; I will make all your enemies turn their backs ³  to you.

For our fathers were unfaithful; they did what is evil in the sight of ¹  the Lord our God and abandoned him! They turned ²  away from the Lord’s dwelling place and rejected him. ³ 

If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated ¹  before its enemies?

Then he brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s house. Right there ¹  at the entrance to the Lord’s temple, between the porch and the altar, ²  were about twenty-five ³  men with their backs to the Lord’s temple, ⁴  facing east – they were worshiping the sun ⁵  toward the east!

They retreated before the Israelites, taking the road to the wilderness. But the battle overtook ¹  them as men from the surrounding cities struck them down. ² 

“Nonetheless they grew disobedient and rebelled against you; they disregarded your law. ¹  They killed your prophets who had solemnly admonished them in order to cause them to return to you. They committed atrocious blasphemies.

They have turned away from me instead of turning to me. ¹  I tried over and over again ²  to instruct them, but they did not listen and respond to correction. ³ 

For you make them retreat ¹  when you shoot your arrows at them. ² 

A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! ¹ 

Even youngsters have scorned me; when I get up, ¹  they scoff at me. ² 

and not pay attention to Jewish myths ¹  and commands of people who reject the truth.

The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. ¹  I will no longer be with you, ²  unless you destroy what has contaminated you. ³ 

This is a message ¹  about the animals in the Negev: Through a land of distress and danger, inhabited by lionesses and roaring lions, ²  by snakes and darting adders, ³  they transport ⁴  their wealth on the backs of donkeys, their riches on the humps of camels, to a nation that cannot help them. ⁵ 

Dedan was your client in saddlecloths for riding.