Proverbs 30

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

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the prophecy uttered by the man unto Ithiel, [even] unto Ithiel and Ucal:

2 "Surely I am the most ignorant man, and do not have a man's understanding.

Truly I am more stupid than any one; and I have not a man's intelligence.

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

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

4 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 every part of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know?

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

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

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

6 Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

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

7 "Two things I have asked of you; do not deny me before I die:

Two things do I ask of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:

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

Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread of my daily need:

9 lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is YHWH?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

lest I be full and deny [thee], and say, Who is Jehovah? or lest I be poor and steal, and outrage the name of my God.

10 "Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

Speak not too much about a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

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

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother;

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

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

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

there is a generation, — how lofty are their eyes, how their eyelids are lifted up!

14 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 among men.

— a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jaw-teeth knives, to devour the afflicted from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men.

15 "The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; four that do not say, 'Enough:'

The leech hath two daughters: Give, give. There are three [things] never satisfied; four which say not, It is enough:

16 Sheol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn't say, 'Enough.' (Sheol h7585)

— Sheol, and the barren womb; the earth which is not filled with water, and the fire which saith not, It is enough. (Sheol h7585)

17 "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.

The eye that mocketh at a father, and despiseth to obey a 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 amazing for me, four which I do not understand:

There are three [things] too wonderful for me, and four that I know not:

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

The way of an eagle in the heavens, 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 eats and wipes her mouth, and says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'

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

21 "For three things the earth tremble, and under four, it can't bear up:

Under three [things] the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up:

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

Under a servant when he reigneth, and a churl when he is filled with meat;

23 for an unloved woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.

under an odious [woman] when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress.

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

There are four [things] little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise:

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

The ants, a people not strong, 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 rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their house in the cliff;

27 The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.

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

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

thou takest hold of the lizard with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces.

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

There are three [things] which have a stately step, and four are comely in going:

30 The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn't turn away for any;

The lion, mighty among beasts, which turneth not away for any;

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

a [horse] girt in the loins; or the he-goat; and a king, against whom none can rise up.

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

If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] the hand upon thy mouth.

33 For as 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 the pressing of milk bringeth forth butter, and the pressing of the nose bringeth forth blood; and the pressing of anger bringeth forth strife.