Proverbs 30
1 These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.
These are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. An oracle. This is what the man says, God, I'm really tired, I'm worn out.
2 For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.
I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.
3 God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.
I have not learned wisdom; I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?
Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? Who holds the winds in the palm of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has set the earth's boundaries? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Are you sure you don't know?
5 For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.
Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.
6 Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar.
Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.
7 Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die.
God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
8 Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:
Keep me from being false, help me not to tell lies. Don't make me poor or rich; just provide me with the food I need.
9 lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly] by the name of God.
Otherwise if I have plenty of money, I may give up on you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” while if I'm poor I may steal and bring the name of my God into disrepute.
10 Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed.
Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.
11 A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
There are some who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.
There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
13 A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.
There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.
14 A wicked generation have swords [for] teeth and jaw-teeth [as] knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.
There are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.
15 The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.
The leech has two daughters who cry out, “Give me! Give me!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”:
16 The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough. (Sheol h7585)
The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, “Enough!” (Sheol h7585)
17 The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
People who ridicule their fathers and despise obedience to the mother will have their eyes pecked out by wild ravens and eaten by young vultures.
18 Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't understand:
19 the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.
The way an eagle soars in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails across the sea, the way a man and a woman fall in love.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: she eats, she wipes her mouth, and then says, “I haven't done anything wrong!”
21 By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear:
Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:
22 if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,
23 or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.
24 And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:
25 the ants which are weak, and [yet] prepare [their] food in summer;
Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.
26 the rabbits also [are] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
Hyraxes—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.
27 The locusts have no king, and [yet] march orderly at one command.
Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.
28 And the eft, which supports itself by [its] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.
29 And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:
30 A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any] beast;
The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.
31 and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
The strutting starling, the male goat, and a king with his army.
32 If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced.
If you have been foolishly boasting about yourself, or if you've been planning to do something wrong, stop and put your hand over your mouth.
33 Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing [one's] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.
