Then he wentup from thereto Bethel;and as he was goingup by the way,youngladscameout from the cityand mockedhim and saidto him, "Goup, you baldhead;goup, you baldhead!"
Now Sarahsawthe sonof Hagarthe Egyptian,whomshe had borneto Abraham,mocking.
As they were goingalong and talking,behold,[there appeared] a chariotof fireand horsesof firewhich separatedthe twoof them. And Elijahwentup by a whirlwindto heaven.
Elijahsaidto Elisha,"Stayhereplease,for the LORDhas sentme as faras Bethel."But Elishasaid,"As the LORDlivesand as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So they wentdownto Bethel.
So the watershave been purifiedto thisday,according to the wordof Elishawhichhe spoke.
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
"Evenyoungchildrendespiseme; I riseup and they speakagainst me.
"But nowthoseyoungerthanI mockme, WhosefathersI disdainedto putwith the dogsof my flock.
Let me not be putto shame,O LORD,for I callupon You; Let the wickedbe putto shame,let them be silentin Sheol.
Let the lyinglipsbe mute,Which speakarrogantlyagainstthe righteousWith prideand contempt.
But at my stumblingthey rejoicedand gatheredthemselves together; The smiterswhom I did not knowgatheredtogether againstme, They slanderedme withoutceasing.
It is by his deedsthat a laddistinguisheshimself Ifhis conductis pureand right.
Foolishnessis boundup in the heartof a child;The rodof disciplinewill removeit farfrom him.
Trainup a childin the wayhe should go, Evenwhenhe is oldhe will not departfrom it.
So, removegriefand angerfrom your heartand putawaypainfrom your body,becausechildhoodand the primeof lifeare fleeting.
Alas,sinfulnation,Peopleweigheddownwith iniquity,Offspringof evildoers,Sonswho actcorruptly!They have abandonedthe LORD,They have despisedthe HolyOneof Israel,They have turnedawayfrom Him.
And the peoplewill be oppressed,Eachoneby another,and eachoneby his neighbor;The youthwill stormagainst the elderAnd the inferioragainst the honorable.
O LORD,You have deceivedme and I was deceived;You have overcomeme and prevailed.I have becomea laughingstockalldaylong; Everyonemocksme.
For eachtimeI speak,I cryaloud;I proclaimviolenceand destruction,Becausefor me the wordof the LORDhas resultedIn reproachand derisionalldaylong.
"The childrengatherwood,and the fatherskindlethe fire,and the womenkneaddoughto makecakesfor the queenof heaven;and [they] pourout drinkofferingsto othergodsin orderto spiteMe.
Thusit will be doneto you at Bethelbecauseof your greatwickedness.At dawnthe kingof Israelwill be completelycutoff.
The inhabitantsof Samariawill fearFor the calfof Beth-aven.Indeed,its peoplewill mournfor it, And its idolatrouspriestswill cryout overit, Overits glory,sinceit has departedfrom it.
Thoughyou, Israel,playthe harlot,Do not let Judahbecomeguilty;Also do not goto Gilgal,Or goup to Beth-avenAnd takethe oath:"As the LORDlives!"
"Now ifa manlosesthe hairof his head,he is bald;he is clean.
"For on the daythat I punishIsrael'stransgressions,I will also punishthe altarsof Bethel;The hornsof the altarwill be cutoffAnd they will fallto the ground.
"EnterBetheland transgress;In Gilgalmultiplytransgression!Bringyour sacrificesevery morning,Your tithesevery threedays.
"But do not resortto BethelAnd do not cometo Gilgal,Norcrossoverto Beersheba;For Gilgalwill certainlygointo captivityAnd Bethelwill cometo trouble.
"But nolongerprophesyat Bethel,for it is a sanctuaryof the kingand a royalresidence."
But as at that timehe who was bornaccordingto the fleshpersecutedhim [who was born] accordingto the Spirit,soit is nowalso.
and othersexperiencedmockingsand scourgings,yes,alsochainsand imprisonment.
