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, 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:
2 Stultissimus sum virorum, et sapientia hominum non est mecum.
For I am more like a beast than any man, I have no power of reasoning like a man:
3 Non didici sapientiam, et non novi scientiam sanctorum.
I have not got wisdom by teaching, so that I might have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Quis ascendit in cælum, atque descendit? quis continuit spiritum in manibus suis? quis colligavit aquas quasi in vestimento? quis suscitavit omnes terminos terræ? quod nomen est ejus, et quod nomen filii ejus, si nosti?
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?
5 Omnis sermo Dei ignitus: clypeus est sperantibus in se.
Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to those who put their faith in him.
6 Ne addas quidquam verbis illius, et arguaris, inveniarisque mendax.
Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear your error, and you will be seen to be false.
7 Duo rogavi te: ne deneges mihi antequam moriar:
I have made request to you for two things; do not keep them from me before my death:
8 vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me; mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi: tribue tantum victui meo necessaria,
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:
9 ne forte satiatus illiciar ad negandum, et dicam: Quis est Dominus? aut egestate compulsus, furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei.
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.
10 Ne accuses servum ad dominum suum, ne forte maledicat tibi, et corruas.
Do not say evil of a servant to his master, or he will put a curse on you, and you will get into trouble.
11 Generatio quæ patri suo maledicit, et quæ matri suæ non benedicit;
There is a generation who put a curse on their father, and do not give a blessing to their mother.
12 generatio quæ sibi munda videtur, et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis;
There is a generation who seem to themselves to be free from sin, but are not washed from their unclean ways.
13 generatio cujus excelsi sunt oculi, et palpebræ ejus in alta surrectæ;
There is a generation, O how full of pride are their eyes! O how their brows are lifted up!
14 generatio quæ pro dentibus gladios habet, et commandit molaribus suis, ut comedat inopes de terra, et pauperes ex hominibus.
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.
15 Sanguisugæ duæ sunt filiæ, dicentes: Affer, affer. Tria sunt insaturabilia, et quartum quod numquam dicit: Sufficit.
The night-spirit has two daughters, Give, give. There are three things which are never full, even four which never say, Enough:
16 Infernus, et os vulvæ, et terra quæ non satiatur aqua: ignis vero numquam dicit: Sufficit. (Sheol h7585)
The underworld, and the woman without a child; the earth which never has enough water, and the fire which never says, Enough. (Sheol h7585)
17 Oculum qui subsannat patrem, et qui despicit partum matris suæ, effodiant eum corvi de torrentibus, et comedant eum filii aquilæ!
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.
18 Tria sunt difficilia mihi, et quartum penitus ignoro:
There are three things, the wonder of which overcomes me, even four things outside my knowledge:
19 viam aquilæ in cælo, 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 snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a girl.
20 Talis est et via mulieris adulteræ, quæ comedit, et tergens os suum dicit: Non sum operata malum.
This is the way of a false wife; she takes food, and, cleaning her mouth, says, I have done no wrong.
21 Per tria movetur terra, et quartum non potest sustinere:
For three things the earth is moved, and there are four which it will not put up with:
22 per servum, cum regnaverit; per stultum, cum saturatus fuerit cibo;
A servant when he becomes a king; a man without sense when his wealth is increased;
23 per odiosam mulierem, cum in matrimonio fuerit assumpta; et per ancillam, cum fuerit hæres dominæ suæ.
A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl who takes the place of her master's wife.
24 Quatuor sunt minima terræ, et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus:
There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are very wise:
25 formicæ, populus infirmus, qui præparat in messe cibum sibi;
The ants are a people not strong, but they put by a store of food in the summer;
26 lepusculus, plebs invalida, qui collocat in petra cubile suum;
The conies are only a feeble people, but they make their houses in the rocks;
27 regem locusta non habet, et egreditur universa per turmas suas;
The locusts have no king, but they all go out in bands;
28 stellio manibus nititur, et moratur in ædibus regis.
You may take the lizard in your hands, but it is in kings' houses.
29 Tria sunt quæ bene gradiuntur, et quartum quod incedit feliciter:
There are three things whose steps are good to see, even four whose goings are fair:
30 leo, fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum;
The lion, which is strongest among beasts, not turning from his way for any;
31 gallus succinctus lumbos; et aries; nec est rex, qui resistat ei.
The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his army is with him.
32 Est qui stultus apparuit postquam elevatus est in sublime; si enim intellexisset, ori suo imposuisset manum.
If you have done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you have had evil designs, put your hand over 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.
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.
