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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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