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 son of Jakeh—the utterance: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.
Surely I am more like an animal than any human and I do not have the understanding of a human being.
3 For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.
I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have 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 gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has gathered up the waters in a 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 tested; 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, or he will discipline you, and you will be proved to be 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 withhold them from 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,
Put vanity and lies far away from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches, just give me 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.
For if I have too much, I might deny you and say, “Who is Yahweh?” Or if I become poor, I might steal and profane 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 slave before his master, or he will curse you and you will be held guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.
There is a generation that curses their father and 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 that is pure in their own eyes, and yet they are not washed of their filth.
13 There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.
There is a generation whose eyes are raised up, and how high are their eyelids 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 swords, and their jawbones are like knives, so they may devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.
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” they cry. 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 that is never satisfied with 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.
The eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, his eyes will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, and he will be eaten by the vultures.
18 There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,
There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not 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 in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a young woman.
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 she 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, and under four it cannot bear up:
22 For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when he is filled with meate,
a slave when he becomes king; a fool when he is filled with food;
23 For the hatefull woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.
a hated woman when she marries; and a maid when she takes the place of 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 and yet they are very wise:
25 The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:
the ants are creatures that are not strong, but they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:
the rock badgers are not mighty creatures, but they make their homes in the rocks.
27 The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:
Locusts have no king, but all of them march in rank.
28 The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.
As for the lizard, you can hold it in your two hands, yet they are found in kings' palaces.
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 stately in how they walk:
30 A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:
a lion, strongest among wild animals— it does not turn away from anything;
31 A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.
a strutting rooster; a goat; and a king whose soldiers are beside 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 been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising 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.
As churning milk makes butter and as one's nose will produce blood if it is twisted, so deeds done in anger produce conflict.
