I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.

My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

Suddenly he went after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare

The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright.

Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.

So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.

“But you did not call for me, O Jacob; you did not long for me, O Israel.

So I defiled your holy princes, and handed Jacob over to destruction, and subjected Israel to humiliating abuse.”

For this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and you will not be redeemed for money.”

In unison give a joyful shout, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord consoles his people; he protects Jerusalem.

You have brought all this on yourself, Israel, by deserting the Lord your God when he was leading you along the right path.

I see one destruction after another taking place, so that the whole land lies in ruins. I see our tents suddenly destroyed, their curtains torn down in a mere instant.

They do one act of violence after another, and one deceitful thing after another. They refuse to pay attention to me,” says the Lord.

The Lord gave me knowledge, that I might have understanding. Then he showed me what the people were doing.

But I will completely uproot and destroy any of those nations that will not pay heed,’” says the Lord.

Even the doe abandons her newborn fawn in the field because there is no grass.

I did not send those prophets. Yet they were in a hurry to give their message. I did not tell them anything. Yet they prophesied anyway.