Do not be as the horseor as the mulewhich havenounderstanding,Whose trappingsinclude bitand bridleto holdthem in check,[Otherwise] they will not comenearto you.
A whipis for the horse,a bridlefor the donkey,And a rodfor the backof fools.
"For My peopleare foolish,They knowMe not; They are stupidchildrenAnd havenounderstanding.They are shrewdto doevil,But to dogoodthey do not know."
Who teachesus morethanthe beastsof the earthAnd makesus wiserthanthe birdsof the heavens?'
Nowifwe putthe bitsinto the horses'mouthssothat they will obeyus, we directtheir entirebodyas well.
"I have surelyheardEphraimgrieving,You have chastisedme, and I was chastised,Like an untrainedcalf;Bringme backthat I may be restored,For You are the LORDmy God.
"BecauseHe has loosedHis bowstringand afflictedme, They have castoffthe bridlebeforeme.
"Whocan stripoffhis outerarmor?Whocan comewithin his doublemail?
