Proverbs 30

1 THE WORDS OF AGUR THE SONNE OF JAKEH. The prophecie which ye man spake vnto Ithiel, euen to Ithiel, and Vcal.

The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh, from Massa. The man says: I am full of weariness, O God, I am full of weariness; O God, I have come to an end:

2 Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.

For I am more like a beast than any man, I have no power of reasoning like a man:

3 For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.

I have not got wisdom by teaching, so that I might have the 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 gone up to heaven and come down? who has taken the winds in his hands, prisoning the waters in his robe? by whom have all the ends of the earth been fixed? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if you are able to say?

5 Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.

Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to those who put their faith in him.

6 Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.

Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear your error, and you will be seen to be false.

7 Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.

I have made request to you for two things; do not keep them from me before my death:

8 Remooue farre from me vanitie and lyes: giue me not pouertie, nor riches: feede me with foode conuenient for me,

Put far from me all false and foolish things: do not give me great wealth or let me be in need, but give me only enough food:

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.

For fear that if I am full, I may be false to you and say, Who is the Lord? or if I am poor, I may become a thief, using the name of my God wrongly.

10 Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.

Do not say evil of a servant to his master, or he will put a curse on you, and you will get into trouble.

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.

There is a generation who put a curse on their father, and do not give a blessing to their mother.

12 There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceite, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.

There is a generation who seem to themselves to be free from sin, but are not washed from their unclean ways.

13 There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.

There is a generation, O how full of pride are their eyes! O how their brows are lifted up!

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 like swords, their strong teeth like knives, for the destruction of the poor from the earth, and of those who are in need 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 night-spirit has two daughters, Give, give. There are three things which are never full, even four which 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)

The underworld, and the woman without a child; the earth which never has enough water, and the fire which 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.

The eye which makes sport of a father, and sees no value in a mother when she is old will be rooted out by the ravens of the valley, and be food for the young eagles.

18 There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,

There are three things, the wonder of which overcomes me, even four things outside my knowledge:

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 air; the way of a snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a girl.

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 a false wife; she takes food, and, cleaning her mouth, says, I have done no wrong.

21 For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:

For three things the earth is moved, and there are four which it will not put up with:

22 For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when he is filled with meate,

A servant when he becomes a king; a man without sense when his wealth is increased;

23 For the hatefull woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.

A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl who takes the place of her master's wife.

24 These be foure small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisedome:

There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are very wise:

25 The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:

The ants are a people not strong, but they put by a store of food in the summer;

26 The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:

The conies are only a feeble people, but they make their houses in the rocks;

27 The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:

The locusts have no king, but they all go out in bands;

28 The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.

You may take the lizard in your hands, but it is in kings' houses.

29 There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,

There are three things whose steps are good to see, even four whose goings are fair:

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

The lion, which is strongest among beasts, not turning from his way for any;

31 A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.

The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his army is with 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 done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you have had evil designs, 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.

The shaking of milk makes butter, and the twisting of the nose makes blood come: so the forcing of wrath is a cause of fighting.