⁶ “I gave you empty stomachs in every city
    and lack of bread in every town,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.^(A)

⁷ “I also withheld^(B) rain from you
    when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
    but withheld it from another.^(C)
One field had rain;
    another had none and dried up.
⁸ People staggered from town to town for water^(D)
    but did not get enough^(E) to drink,
    yet you have not returned^(F) to me,”
declares the Lord.^(G)

⁹ “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
    destroying them with blight and mildew.^(H)
Locusts^(I) devoured your fig and olive trees,^(J)
    yet you have not returned^(K) to me,”
declares the Lord.

¹⁰ “I sent plagues^(L) among you
    as I did to Egypt.^(M)
I killed your young men^(N) with the sword,
    along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench^(O) of your camps,
    yet you have not returned to me,”^(P)
declares the Lord.^(Q)

¹¹ “I overthrew some of you
    as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.^(R)
You were like a burning stick^(S) snatched from the fire,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.^(T)

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?^(A)
    Tell me, if you understand.^(B)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?^(C) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line^(D) across it?
⁶ On what were its footings set,^(E)
    or who laid its cornerstone^(F)—
⁷ while the morning stars^(G) sang together^(H)
    and all the angels^[a](I) shouted for joy?^(J)

⁷ “Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.^(B)

⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?^(C)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?^(D)
9 Do you have an arm like God’s,^(E)
    and can your voice^(F) thunder like his?^(G)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.^(H)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,^(I)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,^(J)
12 look at all who are proud^(K) and humble them,^(L)
    crush^(M) the wicked where they stand.
¹³ Bury them all in the dust together;^(N)
    shroud their faces in the grave.^(O)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.^(P)

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart^(A) when he rebukes you,
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,^(B)
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”^[a](C)