30 2 To humble ourselves in consideration of God’s works. 5 The word of God is perfect. 11 Of the wicked and hypocrites. 15 Of things that are never satiate. 18 Of others that are wonderful.

THE WORDS OF [a]AGUR THE SON OF JAKEH.

The prophecy which the man spake unto Ithiel, even to [b]Ithiel, and Ucal.

Surely I am more [c]foolish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man in me.

For I have not learned wisdom, nor attained to the knowledge of holy things.

Who hath ascended up to [d]heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the world? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

(A)Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to those that trust in him.

(B)Put nothing unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Two [e]things have I required of thee: deny me them not before I die.

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me not poverty, nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me,

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, [f]Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, [g]when thou hast offended.

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12 There is a generation that are pure in their own conceit, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation whose eyes are haughty, and their eye lids are lifted up.

14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their chaws as knives to eat up the afflicted out of the earth, and the poor from among men.

15 The horseleech hath two [h]daughters which cry, Give, give. There be three things that will not be satisfied: yea, four that say not, It is enough.

16 The grave, and the barren womb, the earth, that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17 The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let the ravens [i]of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.

18 There be three things hid from me: yea, four that I know not:

19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a stone, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.

20 Such is the way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and [j]wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have not committed iniquity.

21 For three things the earth is moved: yea, for four it cannot sustain itself.

22 For [k]a servant when he reigneth, and a fool when he is filled with meat,

23 For the hateful woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is [l]heir to her mistress.

24 These be four small things in the earth, yet they are [m]wise, and full of wisdom.

25 The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meat in summer:

26 The conies a people not mighty, yet make they their houses in the rock:

27 The grasshopper hath no king, yet go they forth all by bands:

28 The spider taketh hold [n]with her hands, and is in king’s palaces.

29 There be three things that order well their going: yea, four are comely in going:

30 A lion which is strong among beasts, and turneth not at the sight of any:

31 A lusty greyhound, and a goat, and a king against whom there is no rising up.

32 If thou hast been foolish in lifting thyself up, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand [o]upon thy mouth.

33 When one churneth milk, he bringeth forth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out, so he that forceth wrath, bringeth forth strife.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:1 Who was an excellent man in virtue and knowledge in the time of Solomon.
  2. Proverbs 30:1 Which were Agur’s scholars or friends.
  3. Proverbs 30:2 Herein he declareth his great humility, who would not attribute any wisdom to himself, but all unto God.
  4. Proverbs 30:4 Meaning, to know the secrets of God, as though he would say, None.
  5. Proverbs 30:7 He maketh this request to God.
  6. Proverbs 30:9 Meaning, that they that put their trust in their riches, forget God, and that by too much wealth men have an occasion to the same.
  7. Proverbs 30:10 In accusing him without cause.
  8. Proverbs 30:15 The leech hath two forks in her tongue, which here he calleth her two daughters, whereby she sucketh the blood, and is never satiated: even so are the covetous extortioners insatiable.
  9. Proverbs 30:17 Which haunt in the valley for carrions.
  10. Proverbs 30:20 She hath her desires, and after counterfeiteth as though she were an honest woman.
  11. Proverbs 30:22 These commonly abuse the state whereunto they are called.
  12. Proverbs 30:23 Which is married to her master after the death of her mistress.
  13. Proverbs 30:24 They contain great doctrine and wisdom.
  14. Proverbs 30:28 If man be not able to compass these common things by his wisdom, we cannot attribute wisdom to man, but folly.
  15. Proverbs 30:32 Make a stay, and continue not in doing evil.

Sayings of Agur

30 The sayings(A) of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance.

This man’s utterance to Ithiel:

“I am weary, God,
    but I can prevail.[a]
Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
    I do not have human understanding.
I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.(B)
Who has gone up(C) to heaven and come down?
    Whose hands(D) have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters(E) in a cloak?(F)
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name,(G) and what is the name of his son?
    Surely you know!

“Every word of God is flawless;(H)
    he is a shield(I) to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add(J) to his words,
    or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

“Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.(K)
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown(L) you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’(M)
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.(N)

10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,
    or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

11 “There are those who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers;(O)
12 those who are pure in their own eyes(P)
    and yet are not cleansed of their filth;(Q)
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,(R)
    whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth(S) are swords
    and whose jaws are set with knives(T)
to devour(U) the poor(V) from the earth
    and the needy from among mankind.(W)

15 “The leech has two daughters.
    ‘Give! Give!’ they cry.

“There are three things that are never satisfied,(X)
    four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
16 the grave,(Y) the barren womb,
    land, which is never satisfied with water,
    and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

17 “The eye that mocks(Z) a father,
    that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
    will be eaten by the vultures.(AA)

18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me,
    four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
    the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
    and the way of a man with a young woman.

20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman:
    She eats and wipes her mouth
    and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’(AB)

21 “Under three things the earth trembles,
    under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king,(AC)
    a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
23 a contemptible woman who gets married,
    and a servant who displaces her mistress.

24 “Four things on earth are small,
    yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
    yet they store up their food in the summer;(AD)
26 hyraxes(AE) are creatures of little power,
    yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts(AF) have no king,
    yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
    yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
    four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
    who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
    and a king secure against revolt.[b]

32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,
    or if you plan evil,
    clap your hand over your mouth!(AG)
33 For as churning cream produces butter,
    and as twisting the nose produces blood,
    so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:1 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text utterance to Ithiel, / to Ithiel and Ukal:
  2. Proverbs 30:31 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.