'Correction' in the Bible

“Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves,So do not despise or reject the discipline of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].

“Whether [it be] for correction, or for His earth [generally]Or for [His] mercy and lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

“For you hate instruction and disciplineAnd cast My words behind you [discarding them].

My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline];Nor despise His rebuke,

Suddenly he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter [not knowing the outcome],Or as one in stocks going to the correction [to be given] to a fool,

He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing],But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].

Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge,But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.

A wise son heeds and accepts [and is the result of] his father’s discipline and instruction,But a scoffer does not listen to reprimand and does not learn from his errors.

Poverty and shame will come to him who refuses instruction and discipline,But he who accepts and learns from reproof or censure is honored.

A [flippant, arrogant] fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction,But he who [is willing to learn and] regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.

He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself,But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom].

Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction,That you may be wise in the time to come.

Blows that wound cleanse away evil,And strokes reach to the innermost parts.

Apply your heart to disciplineAnd your ears to words of knowledge.

Why should you be stricken and punished again [since no change results from it]?You [only] continue to rebel.The whole head is sickAnd the whole heart is faint and sick.

“In vain I have punished your people [with the consequences of their disobedience];They received no insight from correction [and refused to change].Your [own] sword has devoured your prophetsLike a destroying lion.

O Lord, do not Your eyes look for truth?You [have seen their faithless heart and] have stricken them,But they did not weaken;You have consumed them,But they refused to take correction or instruction.They have made their faces harder than rock;They have refused to repent and return to You.

You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God or accept correction and warning; truth and faithfulness have perished and have completely vanished from their mouths.

Are You not from everlasting,O Lord, my God, My Holy One?We will not die.O Lord, You have appointed the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon] to execute [Your] judgment,And You, O Rock, have established them to correct and chastise.

She did not listen and heed the voice [of God];She accepted no correction.She did not trust in the Lord [but trusted her own power];She did not draw near to her God [but to the pagan gods of Baal or Molech].

“I said, ‘Most certainly you will [reverently] fear Me;Accept correction.’So Jerusalem’s dwelling will not be cut offIn accordance with all that I have appointed concerning her [punishment],But they were eager [even rising early] to make all their deeds corrupt.

Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline and correction], or with love and a gentle spirit?

All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];

and you have forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,“My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord,And do not lose heart and give up when you are corrected by Him;

You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all].