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 his prophecy; the inspired utterance of the man to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal.
2 [Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
Truly I am more stupid than any man; There is not in me the understanding of a man.
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
I have not learned wisdom, Nor have I gained the knowledge of the Most 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 gone up into heaven and come down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound up the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what his son's name, if thou knowest?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus: clypeus est sperantibus in se.
Every word of God is pure; A shield is he to them that put their trust in him.
6 Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax.
Add not to his words, Lest he rebuke thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te: ne deneges mihi antequam moriar:
Two things do I ask of thee; Withhold them not from me, 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 falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food which is needful 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 violate the name of my God.
10 Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.]
Talk not against a servant to his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou suffer for it.
11 [Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit;
There is a class of men that curse their fathers, And do not bless their mothers.
12 generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis;
There is a class who are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ;
There is a class, —O how lofty are their eyes, And how are their eyelids 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 class, whose teeth are swords, And their jaw-teeth 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 vampire hath two daughters; “Give! give!” [[is their cry.]] There are three things which are never satisfied; Yea, four which say not, “Enough!”
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
The underworld, and the barren womb; The earth, which is not satiated with water, And fire, which never saith, “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 a father, And scorneth to obey a 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:
These three things are too wonderful for me; Yea, there are four which I understand not:
19 viam aquilæ in cælo, viam colubri super petram, viam navis in medio mari, et viam viri in adolescentia.
The track of an eagle in the air, The track of a serpent upon a rock, The track of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the track 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 nothing wrong.”
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
Under three things is the earth disquieted; Yea, under four it cannot bear up:
22 per servum, cum regnaverit; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo;
Under a servant when he becometh a king, And a fool when he is filled with bread;
23 per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta; et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ.]
Under an odious woman when she becometh a wife, And a handmaid when she becometh heir to her mistress.
24 [Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus:
There are four things which are small upon the earth, Yet are they wise, instructed in wisdom.
25 formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi;
The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare in the summer their food.
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum;
The conies are a feeble people, Yet do they make their houses in the rocks.
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas;
The locusts have no king, Yet do they all go forth in bands.
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
The lizard seizeth with its hands, And is in king's palaces.
29 Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter:
These three have a graceful step; Yea, four are graceful in their walk:
30 leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum;
The lion, the hero among beasts, Which turneth not back for any;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos; et aries; nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
The loin-girded war-horse, the he-goat, And a king who cannot be withstood.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
If thou hast been foolish in lifting thyself up, And hast meditated evil, Put thy hand on 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.]
For, as the pressing of milk bringeth forth cheese, And as the pressing of the nose bringeth forth blood, So the pressing of anger bringeth forth strife.
