Proverbs 30

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, [even] the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

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

2 Surely I [am] more brutish than [any] man, and have not the understanding of a man.

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

3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

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

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

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] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

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

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

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

7 Two [things] have I required of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:

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

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

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

9 Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].

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

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

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

11 [There is] a generation [that] curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

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

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

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 lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids 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 as] swords, and their jaw teeth [as] knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy 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 horseleach hath two daughters, [crying], Give, give. There are three [things that] are never satisfied, [yea], four [things] say not, [It is] enough:

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

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth [that] is not filled with water; and the fire [that] saith not, [It is] 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 [that] mocketh at [his] father, and despiseth to obey [his] mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

“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 be three [things which] are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

“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 serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

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 Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

“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 disquieted, and for four [which] it cannot bear:

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

22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

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

23 For an odious [woman] when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

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

24 There be four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] exceeding wise:

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

25 The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

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

26 The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they 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, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

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

28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

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

29 There be three [things] which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

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

30 A lion [which is] strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

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

31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom [there is] no rising up.

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

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thine hand upon thy mouth.

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

33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

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