Thomson(i)
1 Thus saith the man to them who trust in God; but I stop.
2 For I am the most foolish of all men. And I have not the understanding of man in me.
3 God hath taught me wisdom: and I have gained a knowledge of holy things.
4 Who hath ascended up to heaven and come down? Who hath collected the winds in his bosom? Who hath infolded the water in a mantle? Who hath a dominion over all the ends of the earth? What is his name? or what the name of his sons?
5 Since all the words of God are tried, and he is a shield to them who revere him;
6 add not to his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar.
7 two things I beg of thee: deprive me not of favour before I die; remove far from me vanity and lying.
8 Give me neither riches nor poverty, but order for me things necessary and convenient;
9 that when I am filled I may not become false and say, Who seeth me? Or being in want, steal and swear by the name of God.
10 Deliver not up a servant into the hands of a master; lest he curse thee and thou be removed out of sight.
11 A wicked progeny curse their father and bless not their mother.
12 A wicked progeny judge themselves righteous, but have not purged their ways.
13 A wicked progeny have lofty eyes and uplifted eyebrows.
14 A wicked progeny have teeth like swords and grinders like cleavers, so as to consume and devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 The leech had three daughters greatly beloved, but these three did not satisfy her; nay even the fourth did not suffice for her to say, There is enough.
16 The grave, and lust for women, and land unsatiated with water: nay water and fire will never say, There is enough.
17 The eye which derideth a father and despiseth the old age of a mother, may the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles devour it.
18 There are three things which I cannot perceive, and a fourth which I do not know:
19 the tracks of an eagle in its flying; the footsteps of a serpent on a rock; the marks of a ship crossing the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having committed the act and washed herself, saith, that she hath done nothing improper.
21 By three things a land is disturbed, and a fourth it cannot bear:
22 a servant when he reigneth; a fool when filled with meat;
23 a handmaid when she expelleth her mistress; and an odious woman when she hath a good husband.
24 There are four things on the earth which are very small, yet they are wiser than the wise:
25 the ants, which not having strength, provide their food in summer;
26 the choirogryllus, which being a feeble nation have built their houses among rocks;
27 the locusts, which having no king encamp regularly at the word of command;
28 and the calabotes, which depending on its feelers and being easily caught maketh its abode in the fortresses of kings.
29 There are three things which march well and a fourth which is stately in its gait;
30 a young lion the strongest of beasts which turneth not aside nor feareth any beast;
31 and a cock strutting magnanimously among his females; and a he-goat marching at the head of a flock; and a king harranguing a nation.
32 If thou sufferest thyself to be elated with joy and engages in battle thou wilt incur disgrace.
33 Churn milk and there will be butter, and if thou wringest the nose, blood will issue forth; so if thou usest provoking language contentions and quarrels will ensue.