Proverbs 30

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

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

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

4Who 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?

5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.footnote b

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

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

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

9Lest 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.footnote e

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

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

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

13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14There 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.

15The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:footnote g

16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17The 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.footnote h

18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19The 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.footnote i

20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

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

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

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

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

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

27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;footnote k

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Words of Agur

1These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel:“I am weary, O God,and worn out.footnote a 2Surely I am the most ignorant of men,and I lack the understanding of a man. 3I have not learned wisdom,and I have no knowledge of the Holy One. 4Who has ascended to heaven and come down?Who has gathered the wind in His hands?Who has bound up the waters in His cloak?Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know! 5Every word of God is flawless;He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6Do not add to His words,lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.

7Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die: 8Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.Give me neither poverty nor riches;feed me with the bread that is my portion. 9Otherwise, I may have too muchand deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’Or I may become poor and steal,profaning the name of my God.

10Do not slander a servant to his master,or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.

11There is a generation of those who curse their fathersand do not bless their mothers. 12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyesand yet unwashed of their filth. 13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyesand pretentious are their glances— 14there is a generation whose teeth are swordsand whose jaws are knives,devouring the oppressed from the earthand the needy from among men.

15The leech has two daughters:Give and Give.There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

16Sheol,
the barren womb,
land never satisfied with water,
and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’

17As for the eye that mocks a fatherand scorns obedience to a mother,may the ravens of the valley pluck it outand young vultures devour it.

18There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

19the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
and the way of a man with a maiden.

20This is the way of an adulteress:She eats and wipes her mouthand says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

21Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

22a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is filled with food,

23an unloved woman who marries,
and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.

24Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:

25The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

26the rock badgersfootnote b are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;

27the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;

28and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

29There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:

30a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;

31a strutting rooster;
a he-goat;
and a king with his army around him.footnote c

32If you have foolishly exalted yourselfor if you have plotted evil,put your hand over your mouth. 33For as the churning of milk yields butter,and the twisting of the nose draws blood,so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”