“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce^(A)
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
    did I sell^(B) you?
Because of your sins^(C) you were sold;^(D)
    because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
² When I came, why was there no one?
    When I called, why was there no one to answer?^(E)
Was my arm too short^(F) to deliver you?
    Do I lack the strength^(G) to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke^(H) I dry up the sea,^(I)
    I turn rivers into a desert;^(J)
their fish rot for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
³ I clothe the heavens with darkness^(K)
    and make sackcloth^(L) its covering.”

⁴ The Sovereign Lord^(M) has given me a well-instructed tongue,^(N)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.^(O)
He wakens me morning by morning,^(P)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.^(Q)
5 The Sovereign Lord^(R) has opened my ears;^(S)
    I have not been rebellious,^(T)
    I have not turned away.
⁶ I offered my back to those who beat^(U) me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;^(V)
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.^(W)
7 Because the Sovereign Lord^(X) helps^(Y) me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,^(Z)
    and I know I will not be put to shame.^(AA)
8 He who vindicates^(AB) me is near.^(AC)
    Who then will bring charges against me?^(AD)
    Let us face each other!^(AE)
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
⁹ It is the Sovereign Lord^(AF) who helps^(AG) me.
    Who will condemn^(AH) me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths^(AI) will eat them up.

¹⁰ Who among you fears^(AJ) the Lord
    and obeys^(AK) the word of his servant?^(AL)
Let the one who walks in the dark,
    who has no light,^(AM)
trust^(AN) in the name of the Lord
    and rely on their God.
¹¹ But now, all you who light fires
    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,^(AO)
go, walk in the light of your fires^(AP)
    and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:^(AQ)
    You will lie down in torment.^(AR)

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.^(A)

² From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,^(B)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

³ Those who guard their lips^(C) preserve their lives,^(D)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.^(E)

⁴ A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,^(F)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

⁵ The righteous hate what is false,^(G)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

⁶ Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.^(H)

⁷ One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;^(I)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.^(J)

⁸ A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.^(K)

⁹ The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.^(L)

¹⁰ Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.^(M)

¹¹ Dishonest money dwindles away,^(N)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.^(O)

¹³ Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,^(P)
    but whoever respects^(Q) a command is rewarded.^(R)

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,^(S)
    turning a person from the snares of death.^(T)