⁷ Even the stork in the sky
    knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
    observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know^(A)
    the requirements of the Lord.

⁴ I thought, “These are only the poor;
    they are foolish,^(A)
for they do not know^(B) the way of the Lord,
    the requirements of their God.
⁵ So I will go to the leaders^(C)
    and speak to them;
surely they know the way of the Lord,
    the requirements of their God.”
But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke
    and torn off the bonds.^(D)

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard;^(A)
    consider its ways and be wise!
⁷ It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer^(B)
    and gathers its food at harvest.^(C)

¹² They have harps and lyres at their banquets,
    pipes^(A) and timbrels^(B) and wine,
but they have no regard^(C) for the deeds of the Lord,
    no respect for the work of his hands.^(D)