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¹ The prophecie which ye man spake vnto Ithiel, euen to Ithiel, and Vcal.² Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.³ For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.⁴ Who hath ascended vp to heauen, and descended? Who hath gathered the winde in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the endes of the world? What is his name, and what is his sonnes name, if thou canst tell?⁵ Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.⁶ Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.

⁷ Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.⁸ Remooue farre from me vanitie and lyes: giue me not pouertie, nor riches: feede me with foode conuenient for me,⁹ Least I be full, & denie thee, and say, Who is the Lorde? or least I be poore and steale, and take the Name of my God in vaine.

¹⁰ Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.¹¹ There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.¹² There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceite, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.¹³ There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.¹⁴ There is a generation, whose teeth are as swordes, and their chawes as kniues to eate vp the afflicted out of the earth, and the poore from among men.

¹⁵ The horse leache hath two daughters which crye, Giue, giue. There be three things that will not be satisfied: yea, foure that say not, It is ynough.¹⁶ The graue, and the barren wombe, the earth that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that sayeth not, It is ynough.¹⁷ The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let ye rauens of the valley picke it out, and the yong eagles eate it.

¹⁸ There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,¹⁹ The way of an eagle in the aire, the way of a serpent vpon a stone, ye way of a ship in ye middes of the sea, and the way of a man with a maide.²⁰ Such is ye way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and wipeth her mouth, and sayth, I haue not committed iniquitie.²¹ For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:²² For a seruant when he reigneth, & a foole when he is filled with meate,²³ For the hatefull woman, when she is married, & for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.

²⁴ These be foure small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisedome:²⁵ The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:²⁶ The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:²⁷ The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:²⁸ The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.

²⁹ There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,³⁰ A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:³¹ A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.³² If thou hast bene foolish in lifting thy selfe vp, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand vpon thy mouth.³³ When one churneth milke, he bringeth foorth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out: so he that forceth wrath, bringeth foorth strife.