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[1] These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.
[2] For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.
[3] God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.
[4] Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?
[5] For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.
[6] Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar.
[7] Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die.
[8] Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth or poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:
[9] lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear vainly by the name of God.
[10] Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed.
[11] A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
[12] A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.
[13] A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.
[14] A wicked generation have swords for teeth and jaw-teeth as knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.
[15] The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.
[16] The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.
[17] The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
[18] Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
[19] the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.
[20] Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
[21] By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear:
[22] if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
[23] or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
[24] And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
[25] the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer;
[26] the rabbits also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
[27] The locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command.
[28] And the eft, which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
[29] And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
[30] A lion's whelp, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast;
[31] and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
[32] If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced.
[33] Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing one's nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
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