Discussion on question by Arash Howaida: American English idiom meaning "painful to resist the gods"

@AakashM I believe the original phrase is used metaphorically. It draws a comparison to an ox who resists the goads of their master. In comparison, a man is in the role of the ox and God is the master, and the goad (a sharp prodding tool), hence the pricking sensation that was used to guide the direction of the ox) is the “path set forth by God”. By resisting the goad, the man only injures himself more, whereas by following God’s path bring salvation on earth and in heaven.

@Joshua if you look at the KJV and compare with the other rewordings (so easy to do at that biblegateway link), you'll see that 'pricks was the -Early Modern English- (Shakespearean) word. 'goad' the verb is common enough nowadays and its nounification is easily understood. The meaning of the current Modern English of 'prick' as a noun just doesn't work.