24 The wisdom of the scribe gincreaseth wisdomg,

And hhe that hath little businessh can become wise.

25 How can he become wise that holdeth ithe goadi,

And glorieth jin brandishing the lancej?

H kWho leadeth cattlek land turneth about oxenl,

mAnd whose discoursem is with bullocks?

26 mmHe is careful nto harrow [the seed-strip]n,

And his anxiety is oto complete the provendero.

27 pLikewise the maker of carving and cunning devicep,

Who by night as by day qhath no restq;

rWho engraveth signet-engravingsr,

sAnd whose art it is to make variety of designs;

He is careful tto make the likeness truet,

And his anxiety is to complete his work.

G(S) tt28 So also uthe smithu that sitteth vby the furnacev,

wAnd regardeth the weighty vesselsw:

The flame of the fire xcrackethx his flesh,

And with the heat of the furnace yhe glowethy;

zTo the sound of the hammer he inclineth his earz,

And to the pattern of the vessel adirectetha his eyes.

G(S) He is careful to complete his work,

And his anxiety is bto measure it off exactlyb.

S(G) 29 Likewise the potter who sitteth cat his wheelc,

dAnd driveth the vessel with the soles of his feetd;

eWho is all the time in anxiety over his worke,

fAnd all his handiwork is gby numbergf;

30 hHis arms are cracked by the clayh,

iAnd [before old age] he is bent and bowedi;

He is careful to complete jthe glazingj,

And his anxiety is kfor the heating ofk the furnace.

(b) 38:31–34. Though unfitted for the highest offices the craftsman fills an essential place

(= 2 + 2 + 2 distichs).