Proverbiorum 30
1 Verba Congregantis, filii Vomentis. Visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus, et qui Deo secum morante confortatus, ait:
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, [even] the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2 [Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
Surely I [am] more brutish than [any] man, and have not the understanding of a man.
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4 Quis ascendit in cælum, atque descendit? quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis? quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento? quis suscitavit omnes terminos terræ? quod nomen est ejus, et quod nomen filii ejus, si nosti?
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus: clypeus est sperantibus in se.
Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax.
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te: ne deneges mihi antequam moriar:
Two [things] have I required of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:
8 vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me; mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi: tribue tantum victui meo necessaria,
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus, furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei.
Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].
10 Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.]
Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 [Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit;
[There is] a generation [that] curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis;
[There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness.
13 generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ;
[There is] a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.
[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 Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit: Sufficit.
The horseleach hath two daughters, [crying], Give, give. There are three [things that] are never satisfied, [yea], four [things] say not, [It is] enough:
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth [that] is not filled with water; and the fire [that] saith not, [It is] enough. (Sheol h7585)
17 Oculum qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ!]
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 eagles shall eat it.
18 [Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
There be three [things which] are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19 viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.
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 Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum.
Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
For three [things] the earth is disquieted, and for four [which] it cannot bear:
22 per servum, cum regnaverit; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo;
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23 per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta; et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ.]
For an odious [woman] when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 [Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus:
There be four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] exceeding wise:
25 formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi;
The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum;
The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas;
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
29 Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter:
There be three [things] which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30 leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum;
A lion [which is] strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos; et aries; nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom [there is] no rising up.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thine hand upon thy mouth.
33 Qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum; et qui vehementer emungit elicit sanguinem; et qui provocat iras producit discordias.]
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
