Proverbs 30
1 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.
These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.
2 I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.
For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.
3 I have not learned wisdom; I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.
4 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?
Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?
5 Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.
For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.
6 Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.
Add not to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be made a liar.
7 God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.
Two things I ask of you; take not favour from me before I die.
8 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.
Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:
9 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.
lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly] by the name of God.
10 Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.
Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse you, and you be utterly destroyed.
11 There are some who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
12 There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.
A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.
13 There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.
A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.
14 There are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.
A wicked generation have swords [for] teeth and jaw teeth [as] knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from amongst men.
15 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!”:
The horse-leech had three dearly beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.
16 The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, “Enough!” (Sheol h7585)
The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough. (Sheol h7585)
17 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.
The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
18 These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't understand:
Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
19 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.
the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.
20 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!”
Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
21 Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:
By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it can’t bear:
22 a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,
if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
23 an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.
or if a maidservant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
24 There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:
And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
25 Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.
the ants which are weak, and [yet] prepare [their] food in summer;
26 Hyraxes—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.
the rabbits also [are] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
27 Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.
The locusts have no king, and [yet] march orderly at one command.
28 Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.
And the eft, which supports itself by [its] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
29 There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:
And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
30 The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.
A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any] beast;
31 The strutting starling, the male goat, and a king with his army.
and a cock walking in boldly amongst the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
32 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.
If you abandon yourself to mirth, and stretch forth your hand in a quarrel, you shall be disgraced.
33 Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.
Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if you wing [one's] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if you extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
