1The prophecy which the man spake unto Ithiel, even to Ithiel, and Ucal.
2Surely I am more foolish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man in me.
3For I have not learned wisdom, nor attained to the knowledge of holy things.
4Who hath ascended up to heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the world? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to those that trust in him.
6Put nothing unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7Two things have I required of thee: deny me them not before I die.
8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me not poverty, nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me,
9Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain.
10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.
11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12There is a generation that are pure in their own conceit, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13There is a generation whose eyes are haughty, and their eye lids are lifted up.
14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their chaws as knives to eat up the afflicted out of the earth, and the poor from among men.
15The horseleech hath two daughters which cry, Give, give. There be three things that will not be satisfied: yea, four that say not, It is enough.
16The grave, and the barren womb, the earth, that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.
18There be three things hid from me: yea, four that I know not:
19The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a stone, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.
20Such is the way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have not committed iniquity.
21For three things the earth is moved: yea, for four it cannot sustain itself.
22For a servant when he reigneth, and a fool when he is filled with meat,
23For the hateful woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24These be four small things in the earth, yet they are wise, and full of wisdom.
25The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meat in summer:
26The conies a people not mighty, yet make they their houses in the rock:
27The grasshopper hath no king, yet go they forth all by bands:
28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king’s palaces.
29There be three things that order well their going: yea, four are comely in going:
30A lion which is strong among beasts, and turneth not at the sight of any:
31A lusty greyhound, and a goat, and a king against whom there is no rising up.
32If thou hast been foolish in lifting thyself up, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33When one churneth milk, he bringeth forth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out, so he that forceth wrath, bringeth forth strife.