Every saying of God is tried, A shield He is to those trusting in Him.

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

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

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

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

Who 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 is His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest!

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

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

To the leech are two daughters, 'Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said 'Sufficiency;'

An 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.

Three things have been too wonderful for me, Yea, four that I have not known:

Two things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die.

Four are little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:

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

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

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

The ants are a people not strong, And they prepare in summer their food,

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

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

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

Three there are going well, Yea, four are good in going:

The 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.

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

For a hated one when she ruleth, And a maid-servant when she succeedeth her mistress.

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

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

Conies are a people not strong, And they place in a rock their house,

Nor have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know.

Sheol, and a restrained womb, Earth -- it is not satisfied with water, And fire -- it hath not said, 'Sufficiency,'

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

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

For a servant when he reigneth, And a fool when he is satisfied with bread,

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