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 Yakeh, even the prophecy: the man said unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ukkal,
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 common man.
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
Nor have I learned wisdom, so that I should have knowledge of the Holy One.
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 eius, et quod nomen filii eius, si nosti?
Who was it that ascended into heaven, and came down again? who gathered the wind in his fists? who bound the waters in a garment? who set up all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest it?”
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus, clypeus est sperantibus in se:
Every saying of God is purified: he is a shield unto those that put their trust in him.
6 ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris inveniarisque mendax.
Do not add aught unto his words: lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te, ne deneges mihi antequam moriar.
Two things do I request of thee: deny them not to me before I die.
8 Vanitatem, et verba mendacia longe fac a me. Mendicitatem, et divitias ne dederis mihi: tribue tantum victui meo necessaria:
Vanity and lying words do thou remove far from me: neither poverty nor riches give thou unto me; let me eat the bread appointed unto me:
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus furer, et periurem nomen Dei mei.
Lest I become over-full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I become poor, and steal, and trespass against the name of my God.
10 Ne accuses servum ad Dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
Do not calumniate a servant unto his master: lest he curse thee, and thou incur guilt.
11 Generatio, quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit.
There is a generation that curseth its father, and doth not bless its mother.
12 Generatio, quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis.
There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, and yet is not washed [clean] of its filthiness.
13 Generatio, cuius excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ eius in alta surrectæ.
There is a generation—O how lofty are its eyes! and its eyelids are so 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 whose string teeth are 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.
Insatiability hath two daughters, [crying, ] Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things which never say, Enough:
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra, quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
The nether world; and a barren womb; the earth which is not satisfied with water; and the fire which never saith, 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, this shall the ravens of the valley pick out; and the young eagles shall eat it.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
Three things there are which are too wonderful for me; and 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 the eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a young woman.
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 wrong.
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
Under three things the earth trembleth, and under four which she cannot bear:
22 Per servum cum regnaverit: per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo:
Under a servant when he becometh king, and a worthless fool when he hath eaten enough bread;
23 per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta: et per ancillam cum fuerit heres dominæ suæ.
Under an odious woman when she is married, and a bond-woman when she dispossesseth her mistress.
24 Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus.
There are four which are the little ones of the earth, and they are nevertheless exceedingly wise:
25 Formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi:
The ants are a people not strong, therefore do they prepare in the summer their food;
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum:
The conies are but a feeble people, therefore do they place on the rocks their houses;
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas:
The locusts have no king, and yet they go forth in troops altogether;
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
The spider thou canst catch with [thy] hands, and yet she is in the palaces of a king.
29 Tria sunt, quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum, quod incedit feliciter:
Three there are that have a stately step, and four, that are stately in going:
30 Leo fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum:
The lion, the mightiest among beasts, who turneth not round from before any one;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos: et aries: nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
The light-legged greyhound, and the he-goat; 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 become degraded by lifting up thyself, or if thou hast devised evil, put thy hand to 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 the pressure of milk bringeth forth butter, and the pressure of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the pressure of wrath bringeth forth strife.
