1. The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision which the man spoke with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God, abiding with him, said:
2. I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me.
3. I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of saints.
4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath held the wind in his hands? who hath bound up the waters together as in a garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his name, and what is the name of his son, if thou knowest?
5. Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that hope in him.
6. Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved, and found a liar:
7. Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I die.
8. Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life:
9. Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and forswear the name of my God.
10. Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou fall.
11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12. A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13. A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high.
14. A generation, that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from among men.