^{1 Ref} 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.

^{2 Ref} For I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man.

^{3 Ref} Nor have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know.

^{4 Ref} 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!

^{5 Ref} Every saying of God `is' tried, A shield He `is' to those trusting in Him.

^{6 Ref} Add not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false.

^{7 Ref} Two things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die.

^{8 Ref} 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,

^{9 Ref} 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.

^{10 Ref} Accuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty.

^{11 Ref} A generation `is', that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless.

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

^{13 Ref} A generation -- how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up.

^{14 Ref} A generation -- swords `are' their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from `among' men.

^{15 Ref} To the leech `are' two daughters, `Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said `Sufficiency;'

^{16 Ref} Sheol, and a restrained womb, Earth -- it `is' not satisfied `with' water, And fire -- it hath not said, `Sufficiency,'

^{17 Ref} 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.

^{18 Ref} Three things have been too wonderful for me, Yea, four that I have not known:

^{19 Ref} 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.

^{20 Ref} So -- the way of an adulterous woman, She hath eaten and hath wiped her mouth, And hath said, `I have not done iniquity.'

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

^{22 Ref} For a servant when he reigneth, And a fool when he is satisfied with bread,

^{23 Ref} For a hated one when she ruleth, And a maid-servant when she succeedeth her mistress.

^{24 Ref} Four `are' little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:

^{25 Ref} The ants `are' a people not strong, And they prepare in summer their food,

^{26 Ref} Conies `are' a people not strong, And they place in a rock their house,

^{27 Ref} 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 Three there are going well, Yea, four are good in going:

^{30 Ref} An old lion -- mighty among beasts, That turneth not back from the face of any,

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

^{32 Ref} If thou hast been foolish in lifting up thyself, And if thou hast devised evil -- hand to mouth!

^{33 Ref} 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!