< Proverbs 30 >
1 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.
THE WORDS OF AGUR THE SONNE OF JAKEH. The prophecie which ye man spake vnto Ithiel, euen to Ithiel, and Vcal.
2 I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.
Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.
3 I have not learned wisdom; I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.
4 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?
Who hath ascended vp to heauen, and descended? Who hath gathered the winde in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the endes of the world? What is his name, and what is his sonnes name, if thou canst tell?
5 Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.
Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.
6 Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.
Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.
7 God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.
8 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.
Remooue farre from me vanitie and lyes: giue me not pouertie, nor riches: feede me with foode conuenient for me,
9 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.
Least I be full, and denie thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or least I be poore and steale, and take the Name of my God in vaine.
10 Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.
Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.
11 There are some who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.
12 There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceite, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.
13 There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.
There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.
14 There are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swordes, and their chawes as kniues to eate vp the afflicted out of the earth, and the poore from among men.
15 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!”:
The horse leache hath two daughters which crye, Giue, giue. There be three things that will not be satisfied: yea, foure that say not, It is ynough.
16 The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, “Enough!” (Sheol )
The graue, and the barren wombe, the earth that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that sayeth not, It is ynough. (Sheol )
17 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.
The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let ye rauens of the valley picke it out, and the yong eagles eate it.
18 These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't understand:
There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,
19 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.
The way of an eagle in the aire, the way of a serpent vpon a stone, ye way of a ship in ye middes of the sea, and the way of a man with a maide.
20 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!”
Such is ye way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and wipeth her mouth, and sayth, I haue not committed iniquitie.
21 Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:
For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:
22 a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,
For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when he is filled with meate,
23 an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.
For the hatefull woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.
24 There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:
These be foure small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisedome:
25 Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.
The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:
26 Hyraxes—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.
The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:
27 Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.
The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:
28 Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.
The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.
29 There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:
There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,
30 The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.
A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:
31 The strutting starling, the male goat, and a king with his army.
A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.
32 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.
If thou hast bene foolish in lifting thy selfe vp, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand vpon thy mouth.
33 Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.
When one churneth milke, he bringeth foorth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out: so he that forceth wrath, bringeth foorth strife.