Proverbs 30
1 THE WORDS OF AGUR THE SONNE OF JAKEH. The prophecie which ye man spake vnto Ithiel, euen to Ithiel, and Vcal.
These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.
Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
3 For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.
I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
4 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?
Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— surely you know!
5 Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.
Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.
Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die:
8 Remooue farre from me vanitie and lyes: giue me not pouertie, nor riches: feede me with foode conuenient for me,
Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.
9 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.
Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
10 Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.
Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.
There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceite, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.
There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
13 There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.
There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
14 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.
there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.
15 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.
The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
16 The graue, and the barren wombe, the earth that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that sayeth not, It is ynough. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’ (Sheol h7585)
17 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.
As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
18 There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,
There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
19 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.
the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 Such is ye way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and wipeth her mouth, and sayth, I haue not committed iniquitie.
This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:
Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when he is filled with meate,
a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
23 For the hatefull woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.
an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
24 These be foure small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisedome:
Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:
25 The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:
The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:
the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
27 The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:
the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;
28 The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.
and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
29 There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,
There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
30 A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:
a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
31 A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.
a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.
32 If thou hast bene foolish in lifting thy selfe vp, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand vpon thy mouth.
If you have foolishly exalted yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33 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.
For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
