Then they call me, and I do not answer, They seek me earnestly, and find me not.

If thou dost seek her as silver, And as hid treasures searchest for her,

Go unto the ant, O slothful one, See her ways and be wise;

And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,

Therefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee.

Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.

For an object of desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.

The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.

Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!

See not wine when it showeth itself red, When it giveth in the cup its colour, It goeth up and down through the upright.

Thine eyes see strange women, And thy heart speaketh perverse things.

They smote me, I have not been sick, They beat me, I have not known. When I awake -- I seek it yet again!'

Lest Jehovah see, and it be evil in His eyes, And He hath turned from off him His anger.

And I see -- I -- I do set my heart, I have seen -- I have received instruction,

For better that he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than that he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

The prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they are punished.

Revealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains.

Men of blood hate the perfect, And the upright seek his soul.

Thou hast seen a man hasty in his words! More hope of a fool than of him.