1 W ords of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man: -- I have wearied myself God, I have wearied myself God, and am consumed.

2 F or I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man.

3 N or have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know.

4 W ho went up to heaven, and cometh down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound waters in a garment? Who established all ends of the earth? What His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest!

5 E very saying of God tried, A shield He to those trusting in Him.

6 A dd not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false.

7 T wo things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die.

8 V anity and a lying word put far from me, Poverty or wealth give not to me, Cause me to eat the bread of my portion,

9 L est I become satiated, and have denied, And have said, `Who Jehovah?' And lest I be poor, and have stolen, And have laid hold of the name of my God.

10 A ccuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 A generation, that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless.

12 A generation -- pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed.

13 A generation -- how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up.

14 A generation -- swords their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from men.

15 T o the leech two daughters, `Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said `Sufficiency;'

16 S heol, and a restrained womb, Earth -- it not satisfied water, And fire -- it hath not said, `Sufficiency,'

17 A n eye that mocketh at a father, And despiseth to obey a mother, Dig it out do ravens of the valley, And eat it do young eagles.

18 T hree things have been too wonderful for me, Yea, four that I have not known:

19 T he way of the eagle in the heavens, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the heart of the sea, And the way of a man in youth.

20 S o -- the way of an adulterous woman, She hath eaten and hath wiped her mouth, And hath said, `I have not done iniquity.'

21 F or three things hath earth been troubled, And for four -- it is not able to bear:

22 F or a servant when he reigneth, And a fool when he is satisfied with bread,

23 F or a hated one when she ruleth, And a maid-servant when she succeedeth her mistress.

24 F our little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:

25 T he ants a people not strong, And they prepare in summer their food,

26 C onies a people not strong, And they place in a rock their house,

27 A king there is not to the locust, And it goeth out -- each one shouting,

28 A spider with two hands taketh hold, And is in the palaces of a king.

29 T hree there are going well, Yea, four are good in going:

30 A n old lion -- mighty among beasts, That turneth not back from the face of any,

31 A girt one of the loins, or a he-goat, And a king -- no rising up with him.

32 I f thou hast been foolish in lifting up thyself, And if thou hast devised evil -- hand to mouth!

33 F or the churning of milk bringeth out butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth out blood, And the forcing of anger bringeth out strife!