The blueness of a wound. — Rather, the stripes of a wound, or wounds which cut into the flesh, cleanse away evil.
So do stripes the inward parts of the belly. — Better, and blows (which reach) the inward parts of the belly, i.e., which are felt in the inmost recesses of the heart (comp. Proverbs 20:27). Kindness is thrown away upon some people: they can only be touched by punishment.