Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them. ¹ 

The people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

Does he argue ¹  with useless ²  talk, with words that have no value in them?

“How long until you ¹  make an end of words? ²  You must consider, ³  and then ⁴  we can talk.

You do damage with words, ¹  and use your tongue to deceive. ² 

They did not remember what he had done, ¹  how he delivered them from the enemy, ² 

They made him angry by the waters of Meribah, and Moses suffered ¹  because of them,

For ¹  I did not obey my teachers ²  and I did not heed ³  my instructors. ⁴ 

So now, sons, ¹  listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak. ² 

The one who deals wisely ¹  in a matter ²  will find success, ³  and blessed ⁴  is the one who trusts in the Lord. ⁵ 

Wisdom is unattainable ¹  for a fool; in court ²  he does not open his mouth. ³ 

Blessed is the one who is always cautious, ¹  but whoever hardens his heart ²  will fall into evil.

The one who reproves ¹  another ²  will in the end ³  find more favor than the one who flatters ⁴  with the tongue.

Here is ¹  another misfortune ²  that I have seen on earth, ³  and it weighs ⁴  heavily on people: ⁵ 

Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, ¹  and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.”

They no longer sing and drink wine; ¹  the beer tastes bitter to those who drink it.

Remember this, so you can be brave! ¹  Think about it, you rebels! ² 

I will certainly punish them for doing such things!” says the Lord. “I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this!” ¹ 

Moreover, ¹  the Lord says to the people of Zion, ²  “Your injuries are incurable; your wounds are severe. ³ 

They will know that I am the Lord; my threats to bring this catastrophe on them were not empty.’ ¹