2. Surely I am more brutish than any other human being,and I do not have human understanding;
3. I have not learned wisdom,nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One.
4. Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended?Who has gathered up the winds in his fists?Who has bound up the waters in his cloak?Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is his name, and what is his son’s name? – if you know!
5. Every word of God is purified;he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.
6. Do not add to his words,lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.
7. Two things I ask from you;do not refuse me before I die:
8. Remove falsehood and lies far from me;do not give me poverty or riches,feed me with my allotted portion of bread,
9. lest I become satisfied and act deceptivelyand say, “Who is the Lord?”Or lest I become poor and stealand demean the name of my God.
10. Do not slander a servant to his master,lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.
11. There is a generation who curse their fathersand do not bless their mothers.
12. There is a generation who are pure in their own eyesand yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13. There is a generation whose eyes are so lofty,and whose eyelids are lifted up disdainfully.
14. There is a generation whose teeth are like swordsand whose molars are like knivesto devour the poor from the earthand the needy from among the human race.
15. The leech has two daughters:“Give! Give!”There are three things that are never satisfied,four that never say, “Enough” –