Proverbs 30

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the burden. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2 Surely I am brutish, unlike a man, and have not the understanding of a man;

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

3 And I have not learned wisdom, that I should have the knowledge of the Holy One.

I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?

Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? who has gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell?

5 Every word of God is tried; He is a shield unto them that take refuge in Him.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6 Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Add you not unto his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

7 Two things have I asked of Thee; deny me them not before I die:

Two things have I required of you; deny me them not before I die:

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with mine allotted bread;

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 Lest I be full, and deny, and say: 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.

Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10 Slander not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curse their father, and do not bless 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 own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation, Oh how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their great teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

15 The horseleech hath two daughters: 'Give, give.' There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four that say not: 'Enough':

The horseleach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that saith not: 'Enough.' (Sheol h7585)

The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that says not, It is enough. (Sheol h7585)

17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young vultures shall eat it.

The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a young woman.

The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

20 So is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith: 'I have done no wickedness.'

Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wickedness.

21 For three things the earth doth quake, and for four it cannot endure:

For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a churl when he is filled with food;

For a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with food;

23 For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

For an abhorrent woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;

The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;

26 The rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the crags;

The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 The spider thou canst take with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces.

The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29 There are three things which are stately in their march, yea, four which are stately in going:

There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turns not away for any;

31 The greyhound; the he-goat also; and the king, against whom there is no rising up.

A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast planned devices, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth.

33 For the churning of milk bringeth forth curd, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.