1. Don’t wish for a multitudeof worthless children,and don’t be glad about sons and daughters if they are ungodly.
2. If they have children,don’t rejoice over themunless they respect the Lord.
3. Don’t be confident that they will live,and don’t rely on their great number.One is better than a thousand,and it’s better to die childlessthan to have ungodly children.
4. A city will be populatedthrough one intelligent person,but a tribe of lawless peoplecan transform it into a desert.
5. My eye has seen many such things,and my ear has heard more extraordinary matters than these.
6. A fire will be kindledin an assembly of sinners,and wrath will flash forthin a disobedient nation.
7. The Lord didn’t seek reconciliationwith the ancient giantswho rebelled in their might.
8. He didn’t spare Lot’s neighbors,whom he detestedbecause of their arrogance.
9. He showed no mercy on a nationdoomed to destruction,on people who were driven offbecause of their sins.
10. So also he showed no mercyto the six hundred thousandfoot soldierswho gathered togetherin their stubbornness.
11. Even if there was onestiff-necked person,it would be amazingif that one would go unpunished,because mercy and wrath are with him,the Lord who reconcilesand who pours out wrath.
12. His scrutiny is as severeas his mercy is abundant;he will judge peopleaccording to their deeds.