Although I trained and strengthened them, ¹  they plot evil against me!

In this way ¹  they will train ²  the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,

Seek the Lord’s favor, ¹  all you humble people ²  of the land who have obeyed his commands! ³  Strive to do what is right! ⁴  Strive to be humble! ⁵  Maybe you will be protected ⁶  on the day of the Lord’s angry judgment.

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

O Lord, in distress they looked for you; they uttered incantations because of your discipline. ¹ 

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan ¹  to be taught not to blaspheme.

But if you do not experience discipline, ¹  something all sons ²  have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

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

and followed ¹  the advice of the younger ones. He said, “My father imposed heavy demands on you; 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 

He seized the leaders ¹  of the city, along with some desert thorns and briers; he then “threshed” the men of Succoth with them. ² 

Wisdom is found in the words ¹  of the discerning person, ²  but the one who lacks wisdom ³  will be disciplined. ⁴ 

They ¹  charge ²  like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. ³  Each one proceeds on his course; they do not alter ⁴  their path.

The overseer ¹  then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, ²  temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

You ¹  should tell him that I am about to judge his house forever because of ²  the sin that he knew about. For his sons were cursing God, ³  and he did not rebuke them.

(Now his father had never corrected ¹  him ²  by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom. ³ )

Wail, O city gate! Cry out, O city! Melt with fear, ¹  all you Philistines! For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke, and there are no stragglers in its ranks. ² 

Then someone will ask him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest?’ ¹  and he will answer, ‘Some that I received in the house of my friends.’

For “physical exercise ¹  has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”