Moff PROV Chapter 30

2 

dull as a clod,

with no quick brain.

3 

I am no master of thought,

of the Deity I know nought.

4 

Who ever climbed to heaven and then came down

who ever gathered the wind in his fingers,

or wrapped the waters in a robe of clouds,

or fixed the bounds of earth

What is his name, or his son’s name?

You do not know it?”

5 

God’s promises are all tried and true;

those who shelter beside him he shields.

6 

Never add to his words,

lest he prove you to be falsifying.

7 

For two boons from thy hand I cry

(deny me not, before I die)

8 

put lies and falsehood far from me,

give neither wealth nor poverty,

but feed me with the food I need;

9 

lest I be full and disclaim thee

saying, “Who is the Eternal?

or sink to poverty and steal

discrediting my God.

10 

Never slander a slave to his master:

the slave may curse you, to your undoing.

11 

Some curse their father,

and bless not their mother.

12 

Some think that they are pure--

with stains still on them!

13 

Some lift haughty eyes

and supercilious looks.

14 

Some have teeth like swords,

and knives within their mouths,

to cut weak folk from the earth

the helpless from the land.

15 

The leech has daughters twain:

“Give, give!” is their refrain.

Three things are never satisfied

four never say “Enough!”--

16 

Death and a barren womb

Earth athirst ever for the rain,

Fire never to be satisfied.

17 

The man who mocks his father

and scorns his aged mother

ravens shall pick the eyes out of his corpse,

and vultures shall devour him.

18 

Three things make me marvel,

four things I cannot fathom:

19 

the way a vulture wings the air

the way a snake glides over stones,

the way a ship sails o’er the sea

and the way of a man with a maid.

20 

[[This is the way of an adulteress:

she gratifies her appetit

and calmly says, “No harm!”]]

21 

Three things burden this poor earth,

four things it cannot bear:

22 

a slave who rises to be king,

a fool who makes a fortune,

23 

a plain girl who at last gets married,

and a maid who supplants her mistress.

24 

Four things are small on earth

small but extremely shrewd:

25 

ants are a frail folk,

but they store up food in summer;

26 

marmots are not a mighty race

but they can burrow in the rocks;

27 

the locusts have no king to lead them,

but they advance in order;

28 

the lizard--you may lift it in your hand,

but it will push into a palace.

29 

Three things have a stately stride,

four things have a stately tread:

30 

a lion, mightiest of beasts

that never runs away;

31 

a strutting cock, and a he-goat

and a king at the head of a host.

32 

You urge in your conceit some silly plan?

Ah, hold your tongue!

33 

Curds come if you chum up butter,

blood comes if you wring the nose,

and strife comes if you churn up anger.