The man declares, I am weary, O God;

I am weary, O God, and worn out.²

2  Surely I am too stupid to be a man.

I have not the understanding of a man.

3  I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I ^uknowledge of the Holy One.

4  Who has ^vascended to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered the wind in his fists?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

^wWhat is his name, and what is his son’s name?

Surely you know!

5  ^xEvery word of God proves true;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6  Do not add to his words,

lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7  Two things I ask of you;

deny them not to me before I die:

8  Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

give me neither poverty nor riches;

^yfeed me with the food that is needful for me,

9  lest I be full and deny you

and say, “Who is the Lord?”

or lest I be poor and ^zsteal

and profane the name of my God.

10  Do not slander a servant to his master,

lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

11  There are those³ who curse their ^afathers

and do not bless their mothers.

12  There are those who are ^bclean in their own eyes

but are not washed of their filth.

13  There are those—how lofty are their eyes,

how high their eyelids lift!

14  There are those whose teeth are swords,

whose ^cfangs are knives,

to devour the poor from off the earth,

the needy from among mankind.