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 spoke to Ithiel, even to 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 caelum atque descendit? quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis? quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento? quis suscitavit omnes terminos terrae? quod nomen est eius, et quod nomen filii eius, si nosti?
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?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus, clypeus est sperantibus in se:
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him.
6 ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris inveniarisque mendax.
Add you not to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 Duo rogavi te, ne deneges mihi antequam moriar.
Two things have I required of you; 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 periurem nomen Dei mei.
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.
10 Ne accuses servum ad Dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.
11 Generatio, quae patri suo maledicit, et quae matri suae non benedicit.
There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
12 Generatio, quae 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, cuius excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebrae eius in alta surrectae.
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 Generatio, quae 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 Sanguisugae duae sunt filiae, dicentes: Affer, Affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum, quod numquam dicit: Sufficit.
The horse leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things say not, It is enough:
16 Infernus, et os vulvae, et terra, quae 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 says not, It is enough. (Sheol h7585)
17 Oculum, qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suae, effodiant corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilae.
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.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not:
19 Viam aquilae in caelo, 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 on a rock; the way of a ship in the middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
20 Talis est et via mulieris adulterae, quae comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum.
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, 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 reigns; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23 per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta: et per ancillam cum fuerit heres dominae suae.
For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 Quattuor sunt minima terrae, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus.
There be four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 Formicae, populus infirmus, qui praeparat 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 aedibus regis.
The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
29 Tria sunt, quae bene gradiuntur, et quartum, quod incedit feliciter:
There be three things which go well, yes, four are comely in going:
30 Leo fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum:
A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turns not away for any;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos: et aries: et rex, cui non est, 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 you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand on your 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 brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.
