Proverbs 30

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

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

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

“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.

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

I have not learnt wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 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?

Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?

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

“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

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

Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

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

“Two things I have asked of you. Don’t deny me before I die.

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

Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me,

9 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.

lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.

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

“Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

11 There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.

There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.

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

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

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

There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.

14 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.

There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from amongst men.

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

“The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’:

16 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)

Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough!’ (Sheol h7585)

17 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.

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

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

“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:

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 maid.

The way of an eagle in the air, 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 with a maiden.

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

“So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

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

“For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up:

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

For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,

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

for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.

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

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

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

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

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

The hyraxes 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 they advance in ranks.

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

You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.

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

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

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

The lion, which is mightiest amongst animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;

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

the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.

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

“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.

33 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.

For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”