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 sanctorum scientiam

I have not got wisdom by teaching, so that I might have the 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 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 quicquam 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 saturatus inliciar ad negandum et dicam quis est Dominus et egestate conpulsus furer et peierem 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 quae patri suo maledicit et quae non benedicit matri suae

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

12 generatio quae 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 cuius excelsi sunt oculi et palpebrae eius in alta subrectae

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

14 generatio quae 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 sanguisugae duae sunt filiae dicentes adfer adfer 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 vulvae et terra quae 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 suae effodiant corvi de torrentibus et comedant illum filii aquilae

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 aquilae in caelo viam colubri super petram viam navis in medio mari et viam viri in adulescentula

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 via mulieris adulterae quae 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 adsumpta et per ancillam cum heres fuerit dominae suae

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

24 quattuor sunt minima terrae et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus

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

25 formicae populus infirmus quae praeparant 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 quae conlocat in petra cubile suum

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

27 regem lucusta non habet et egreditur universa per turmas

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

28 stilio manibus nititur et moratur in aedibus regis

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

29 tria sunt quae 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 et qui stultus apparuit postquam elatus est in sublime si enim intellexisset ori inposuisset 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 emungitur 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.