The man declares, I am weary, O God;
    I am weary, O God, and worn out.^[b]
2 Surely I am too ^(A)stupid to be a man.
    I have not the understanding of a man.
³ I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I knowledge of ^(B)the Holy One.
⁴ Who has ^(C)ascended to heaven and come down?
    Who has ^(D)gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has ^(E)wrapped up the waters in a garment?
    Who has established all ^(F)the ends of the earth?
^(G)What is his name, and what is his son's name?
    Surely you know!

^24 (A)Four things on earth are small,
    but they are exceedingly wise:
^25 (B)the ants are a people not strong,
    yet they provide their food in the summer;
^26 (C)the rock badgers are a people not mighty,
    yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
²⁷ the locusts have no ^(D)king,
    yet all of them march in ^(E)rank;
²⁸ the lizard you can take in your hands,
    yet it is in kings' palaces.

^29 (F)Three things are stately in their tread;
    ^(G)four are stately in their stride:
³⁰ the lion, which is mightiest among beasts
    and ^(H)does not turn back before any;
³¹ the ^(I)strutting rooster,^[a] the he-goat,
    and a king whose army is with him.^[b]

³² If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
    or if you have been devising evil,
    ^(J)put your hand on your mouth.
³³ For pressing milk produces curds,
    pressing the nose produces blood,
    and pressing anger produces strife.