¹¹ My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

¹⁴ he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”

⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(A) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(B) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^(C)

³ And out of the smoke locusts^(A) came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions^(B) of the earth.

⁵ They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months.^(A) And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion^(B) when it strikes.