Proverbs 30

1 The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh, from Massa. The man says: I am full of weariness, O God, I am full of weariness; O God, I have come to an end:

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 For I am more like a beast than any man, I have no power of reasoning like a man:

“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.

3 I have not got wisdom by teaching, so that I might have the knowledge of the Holy One.

I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? who has taken the winds in his hands, prisoning the waters in his robe? by whom have all the ends of the earth been fixed? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if you are able to say?

Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?

5 Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to those who put their faith in him.

“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6 Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear your error, and you will be seen to be false.

Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

7 I have made request to you for two things; do not keep them from me before my death:

“Two things I have asked of you. Don’t deny me before I die.

8 Put far from me all false and foolish things: do not give me great wealth or let me be in need, but give me only enough food:

Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me,

9 For fear that if I am full, I may be false to you and say, Who is the Lord? or if I am poor, I may become a thief, using the name of my God wrongly.

lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

10 Do not say evil of a servant to his master, or he will put a curse on you, and you will get into trouble.

“Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

11 There is a generation who put a curse on their father, and do not give a blessing to their mother.

There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.

12 There is a generation who seem to themselves to be free from sin, but are not washed from their unclean ways.

There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation, O how full of pride are their eyes! O how their brows are lifted up!

There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, their strong teeth like knives, for the destruction of the poor from the earth, and of those who are in need from among men.

There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

15 The night-spirit has two daughters, Give, give. There are three things which are never full, even four which never say, Enough:

“The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’:

16 The underworld, and the woman without a child; the earth which never has enough water, and the fire which never says, Enough. (Sheol h7585)

Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough!’ (Sheol h7585)

17 The eye which makes sport of a father, and sees no value in a mother when she is old will be rooted out by the ravens of the valley, and be food for the young eagles.

“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.

18 There are three things, the wonder of which overcomes me, even four things outside my knowledge:

“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:

19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a girl.

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 maiden.

20 This is the way of a false wife; she takes food, and, cleaning her mouth, says, I have done no wrong.

“So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

21 For three things the earth is moved, and there are four which it will not put up with:

“For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up:

22 A servant when he becomes a king; a man without sense when his wealth is increased;

For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,

23 A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl who takes the place of her master's wife.

for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are very wise:

“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, but they put by a store of food in the summer;

The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.

26 The conies are only a feeble people, but they make their houses in the rocks;

The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.

27 The locusts have no king, but they all go out in bands;

The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.

28 You may take the lizard in your hands, but it is in kings' houses.

You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.

29 There are three things whose steps are good to see, even four whose goings are fair:

“There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:

30 The lion, which is strongest among beasts, not turning from his way for any;

The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;

31 The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his army is with him.

the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.

32 If you have done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you have had evil designs, put your hand over your mouth.

“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.

33 The shaking of milk makes butter, and the twisting of the nose makes blood come: so the forcing of wrath is a cause of fighting.

For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”