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