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 the Gatherer, the son of the Vomiter. The vision that the man spoke. God is with him, and he, being strengthened by God and abiding with him, said:
2 Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.
“I am the most foolish among men, and the wisdom of men is not with me.
3 For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.
I have not learned wisdom, and I have not known the knowledge of sanctity.
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 also descended? Who has grasped the wind in his hands? Who has tied the waters together, as with a garment? Who has raised all the limits of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son, if you know?
5 Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.
Every word of God is fire-tested. He is a bronze shield to those who hope in him.
6 Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.
Do not add anything to his words, lest you be reproved and be discovered to be a liar.
7 Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.
Two things I have asked of you; do not deny them to 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,
Remove, far from me, vanity and lying words. Give me neither begging, nor wealth. Apportion to me only the necessities of my life,
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.
lest perhaps, being filled, I might be enticed into denial, and say: ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or, being compelled by destitution, I might steal, and then perjure myself in the name of my God.
10 Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.
Do not accuse a servant to his lord, lest he curse you, and you fall.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.
There is a generation which curses their father, and which does not bless 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 which seems pure to themselves, and yet they are not even washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.
There is a generation, whose eyes have been elevated, and their eyelids are lifted on high.
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 which has swords in place of teeth, and which commands their molars to devour the indigent from the earth and the poor 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, who say, ‘Bring, bring.’ Three things are insatiable, and a fourth never says ‘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)
Hell, and the mouth of the womb, and a land that is not filled with water. And truly, fire 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 of one who mocks his father and who despises the childbearing of his mother, let the ravens of the torrent tear it out, and let the sons of the eagles consume it.
18 There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,
Three things are difficult for me, and about a fourth, I am nearly ignorant:
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 serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man in adolescence.
20 Such is ye way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and wipeth her mouth, and sayth, I haue not committed iniquitie.
Such is the way also of an adulterous woman, who eats, and wiping her mouth, says: “I have done no evil.”
21 For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:
By three things, the earth is moved, and a fourth it is not able to sustain:
22 For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when he is filled with meate,
by a slave when he reigns, by the foolish when he has been filled with food,
23 For the hatefull woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.
by a hateful woman when she has been taken in matrimony, and by a handmaid when she has been heir to her mistress.
24 These be foure small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisedome:
Four things are least upon the earth, and they are wiser than the wise:
25 The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:
the ants, an infirm people who provide food for themselves at the harvest,
26 The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:
the rabbit, a sickened people who make their bed upon the rock.
27 The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:
The locust has no king, but they all depart by their troops.
28 The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.
The lizard supports itself on hands and dwells in the buildings of kings.
29 There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,
There are three things that advance well, and a fourth that marches happily on:
30 A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:
a lion, the strongest of beasts, who fears nothing that he meets,
31 A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.
a rooster prepared at the loins, likewise a ram, and a king, whom none can resist.
32 If thou hast bene foolish in lifting thy selfe vp, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand vpon thy mouth.
There is one who has appeared foolish, after he was lifted up on high; for if he had understood, he would have placed his hand over his 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.
But whoever strongly squeezes the udder to bring out the milk, presses out butter. And whoever violently blows his nose, brings out blood. And whoever provokes wrath, brings forth discord.”
