Proverbs 30
1 These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.
“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.
3 God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.
I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the 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 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 For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.
“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Add not to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be made a liar.
Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 Two things I ask of you; take not favour from me before I die.
“Two things I have asked of you. Don’t deny me before I die.
8 Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:
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 filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly] by the name of God.
lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse you, and you be utterly destroyed.
“Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.
12 A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.
There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
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 amongst men.
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 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: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t 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)
Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘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.
“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 Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’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 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 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
“So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it can’t bear:
“For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up:
22 if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,
23 or if a maidservant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
24 And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25 the ants which are weak, and [yet] prepare [their] food in summer;
The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
26 the rabbits also [are] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
27 The locusts have no king, and [yet] march orderly at one command.
The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
28 And the eft, which supports itself by [its] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
“There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
30 A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any] beast;
The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;
31 and a cock walking in boldly amongst the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
32 If you abandon yourself to mirth, and stretch forth your hand in a quarrel, you shall be disgraced.
“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33 Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if you wing [one's] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if you extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”
