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. An oracle. This is what the man says, God, I'm really tired, I'm worn out.
2 Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.
I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.
3 For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.
I have not learned wisdom; 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 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?
5 Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.
Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.
6 Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.
Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.
7 Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.
God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
8 Remooue farre from me vanitie and lyes: giue me not pouertie, nor riches: feede me with foode conuenient for me,
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.
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 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.
10 Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.
Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.
There are some 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 are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
13 There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.
There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.
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 are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.
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 cry out, “Give me! Give me!” 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)
The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the 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.
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.
18 There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,
These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't 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 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.
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 woman who commits adultery: she eats, she wipes her mouth, and then says, “I haven't done anything wrong!”
21 For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:
Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:
22 For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when he is filled with meate,
a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,
23 For the hatefull woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.
an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.
24 These be foure small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisedome:
There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:
25 The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:
Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.
26 The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:
Hyraxes—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.
27 The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:
Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.
28 The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.
Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.
29 There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,
There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:
30 A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:
The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.
31 A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.
The strutting starling, the male goat, and a king with his army.
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 been foolishly boasting about yourself, or if you've been planning to do something wrong, stop and 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.
Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.
