Proverbiorum 30
1 verba Congregantis filii Vomentis visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus et qui Deo secum morante confortatus ait
These are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. An oracle. This is what the man says, God, I'm really tired, I'm worn out.
2 stultissimus sum virorum et sapientia hominum non est mecum
I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.
3 non didici sapientiam et non novi sanctorum scientiam
I have not learned wisdom; I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
4 quis ascendit in caelum atque descendit quis continuit spiritum manibus suis quis conligavit aquas quasi in vestimento quis suscitavit omnes terminos terrae quod nomen eius et quod nomen filii eius si nosti
Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? Who holds the winds in the palm of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has set the earth's boundaries? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Are you sure you don't know?
5 omnis sermo Dei ignitus clypeus est sperantibus in se
Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.
6 ne addas quicquam verbis illius et arguaris inveniarisque mendax
Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.
7 duo rogavi te ne deneges mihi antequam moriar
God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
8 vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi tribue tantum victui meo necessaria
Keep me from being false, help me not to tell lies. Don't make me poor or rich; just provide me with the food I need.
9 ne forte saturatus inliciar ad negandum et dicam quis est Dominus et egestate conpulsus furer et peierem nomen Dei mei
Otherwise if I have plenty of money, I may give up on you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” while if I'm poor I may steal and bring the name of my God into disrepute.
10 ne accuses servum ad dominum suum ne forte maledicat tibi et corruas
Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.
11 generatio quae patri suo maledicit et quae non benedicit matri suae
There are some who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 generatio quae sibi munda videtur et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis
There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
13 generatio cuius excelsi sunt oculi et palpebrae eius in alta subrectae
There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.
14 generatio quae pro dentibus gladios habet et commandit molaribus suis ut comedat inopes de terra et pauperes ex hominibus
There are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.
15 sanguisugae duae sunt filiae dicentes adfer adfer tria sunt insaturabilia et quartum quod numquam dicit sufficit
The leech has two daughters who cry out, “Give me! Give me!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”:
16 infernus et os vulvae et terra quae non satiatur aqua ignis vero numquam dicit sufficit (Sheol h7585)
The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, “Enough!” (Sheol h7585)
17 oculum qui subsannat patrem et qui despicit partum matris suae effodiant corvi de torrentibus et comedant illum filii aquilae
People who ridicule their fathers and despise obedience to the mother will have their eyes pecked out by wild ravens and eaten by young vultures.
18 tria sunt difficilia mihi et quartum penitus ignoro
These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't understand:
19 viam aquilae in caelo viam colubri super petram viam navis in medio mari et viam viri in adulescentula
The way an eagle soars in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails across the sea, the way a man and a woman fall in love.
20 talis est via mulieris adulterae quae comedit et tergens os suum dicit non sum operata malum
This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: she eats, she wipes her mouth, and then says, “I haven't done anything wrong!”
21 per tria movetur terra et quartum non potest sustinere
Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:
22 per servum cum regnaverit per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo
a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,
23 per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit adsumpta et per ancillam cum heres fuerit dominae suae
an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.
24 quattuor sunt minima terrae et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus
There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:
25 formicae populus infirmus quae praeparant in messe cibum sibi
Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.
26 lepusculus plebs invalida quae conlocat in petra cubile suum
Hyraxes—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.
27 regem lucusta non habet et egreditur universa per turmas
Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.
28 stilio manibus nititur et moratur in aedibus regis
Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.
29 tria sunt quae bene gradiuntur et quartum quod incedit feliciter
There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:
30 leo fortissimus bestiarum ad nullius pavebit occursum
The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.
31 gallus succinctus lumbos et aries nec est rex qui resistat ei
The strutting starling, the male goat, and a king with his army.
32 et qui stultus apparuit postquam elatus est in sublime si enim intellexisset ori inposuisset manum
If you have been foolishly boasting about yourself, or if you've been planning to do something wrong, stop and put your hand over your mouth.
33 qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum et qui vehementer emungitur elicit sanguinem et qui provocat iras producit discordias
Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.
