²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

¹³ In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

¹² If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.

³ knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,

⁴ and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

⁵ For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;

⁶ by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

⁷ but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

⁴⁰ Beware therefore, lest that come upon `you' which is spoken in the prophets:

⁴¹ Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.

²⁰ For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scoffer ceaseth, and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off;

²² Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.

⁶ A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.

¹⁰ A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

²² He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as `one in' fetters to the correction of the fool;

³⁴ Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.