¹¹ Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”

¹⁰ They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people.

⁵ They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting.

³ Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions.

¹⁹ Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

¹³ “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but you have replaced it with a yoke of iron. ¹⁴ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I have put a yoke of iron on the necks of all these nations, forcing them into slavery under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control.’”

¹⁸ When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”