I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom.

Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper.

so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, “Was I not only joking?”

The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.

The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

All of them are skilled with a sword, well-trained in the art of warfare. Each has his sword at his side, to guard against the terrors of the night.

The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.

At that time a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats.

“I will provoke civil strife in Egypt, brothers will fight with each other, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms.

I look, but there is no one, among them there is no one who serves as an adviser, that I might ask questions and receive answers.

They will disappoint you, those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth. Each strays off in his own direction, leaving no one to rescue you.”

All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the Lord caused the sin of all of us to attack him.

They are like lusty, well-fed stallions. Each of them lusts after his neighbor’s wife.

Kings will come against it with their armies. They will encamp in siege all around it. Each of them will devastate the portion assigned to him.

“Hear the terms of the covenant I made with Israel and pass them on to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem.

But after I have uprooted the people of those nations, I will relent and have pity on them. I will restore the people of each of those nations to their own lands and to their own country.

I will send men against it to destroy it with their axes and hatchets. They will hack up its fine cedar panels and columns and throw them into the fire.

So I, the Lord, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me.

Rather, each person will die for his own sins. The teeth of the person who eats the sour grapes will themselves grow numb.