30
1 The
words of Agur the
son of Jakeh,
the revelation:
the man says
to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 “Surely
I am the most
ignorant man,
and don’t have
a man’s understanding.
3 I
have not learned
wisdom,
neither do I have
the knowledge of
the Holy One.
4 Who
has ascended up
into heaven, and
descended?
Who has gathered
the wind in
his fists?
Who has bound
the waters in
his garment?
Who has
established all
the ends of the
earth?
What is his
name, and what
is his son’s
name, if you
know?
5 “Every word
of God is flawless.
He is a
shield to those
who take refuge
in him.
6 Don’t you
add to his
words,
lest he reprove
you, and you
be found a liar.
7 “Two
things I have
asked of you.
Don’t deny me
before I die.
8 Remove
far from me
falsehood and lies.
Give me neither
poverty nor riches.
Feed me with
the food that
is needful for me,
9 lest
I be full,
deny you, and say,
‘Who is the
LORD?’
or lest I
be poor, and
steal,
and so dishonor
the name of
my God.
10 “Don’t
slander a servant
to his master,
lest he curse
you, and you
be held guilty.
11 There is
a generation that
curses their father,
and doesn’t bless
their mother.
12 There is
a generation that
is pure in
their own eyes,
yet are not
washed from their
filthiness.
13 There is
a generation, oh
how lofty are
their eyes!
Their eyelids are
lifted up.
14 There is
a generation whose
teeth are like
swords,
and their
jaws like knives,
to devour the
poor from
the earth, and the
needy from
among men.
15 “The
leech has two
daughters:
‘Give, give.’
“There are three
things that are
never satisfied;
four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’:
16 Sheol,
the barren womb,
the earth that is
not satisfied with
water,
and the fire
that doesn’t say, ‘Enough!’
17 “The
eye that mocks
at his father,
and scorns obedience
to his mother,
the ravens of
the valley shall
pick it out,
the young eagles
shall eat it.
18 “There
are three things
which are too
amazing for me,
four which I don’t
understand:
19 The
way of an
eagle in the
air,
the way of
a serpent on
a rock,
the way of
a ship in the
middle of the
sea,
and the way
of a man
with a maiden.
20 “So
is the way
of an adulterous woman:
She eats and
wipes her mouth,
and says, ‘I
have done nothing
wrong.’
21 “For
three things
the earth trembles,
and under four,
it can’t bear
up:
22 For
a servant when
he is king,
a fool when
he is filled
with food,
23 for
an unloved woman
when she is
married,
and a servant
who is heir
to her mistress.
24 “There
are four things
which are little on
the earth,
but they are
exceedingly wise:
25 The
ants are not
a strong people,
yet they provide
their food in
the summer.
26 The hyraxes
are but a
feeble folk,
yet make they
their houses in
the rocks.
27 The locusts
have no king,
yet they advance
in ranks.
28 You can
catch a lizard
with your hands,
yet it is in
kings’ palaces.
29 “There
are three things
which are stately
in their march,
four which are
stately in going:
30 The
lion, which is
mightiest among animals,
and doesn’t turn
away for any;
31 the
greyhound;
the male goat;
and the king
against whom there is no rising
up.
32 “If you
have done
foolishly in lifting
up yourself,
or if you have
thought evil,
put your hand
over your mouth.
33 For
as the churning
of milk produces
butter,
and the wringing
of the nose
produces blood,
so the forcing
of wrath produces
strife.”