Proverbs 30
1The words of Agur son of Jakeh—the utterance: 1 This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: + 30:1 Some versions have This man declared, “I am weary, O God, I am weary. I am unable to do anything.” 1
2Surely I am more like an animal than any human 1 and I do not have the understanding of a human being. 1
3I have not learned wisdom, 1 nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One. 1
4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? 1 Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? 1 Who has gathered up the waters in a cloak? 1 Who has established all the ends of the earth? 1 What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! 1
5Every word of God is tested; 1 he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 1
6Do not add to his words, 1 or he will discipline you, 1 and you will be proved to be a liar. 1
7Two things I ask of you, 1 do not withhold them from me before I die: 1
8Put vanity and lies far away from me. 1 Give me neither poverty nor riches, 1 just give me the food I need. 1
9For if I have too much, I might deny you and say, “Who is Yahweh?” 1 Or if I become poor, 1 I might steal and profane the name of my God. 1
10Do not slander a slave before his master, 1 or he will curse you and you will be held guilty. 1
11There is a generation that curses their father 1 and does not bless their mother. 1
12There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, 1 and yet they are not washed of their filth. 1
13There is a generation whose eyes are raised up, 1 and how high are their eyelids lifted up! 1
14There is a generation whose teeth are swords, 1 and their jawbones are like knives, 1 so they may devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity. 1
15The leech has two daughters: “Give and give” they cry. 1 There are three things that are never satisfied, 1 four that never say, “Enough”: 1
16Sheol; the barren womb; 1 land that is never satisfied with water; 1 and the fire that never says, “Enough!” 1
17The eye that mocks a father 1 and scorns obedience to a mother, 1 his eyes will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, 1 and he will be eaten by the vultures. 1
18There are three things that are too wonderful for me, 1 four that I do not understand: 1
19the way of an eagle in the sky; 1 the way of a snake on a rock; 1 the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; 1 and the way of a man with a young woman. 1
20This is the way of an adulteress: 1 she eats and she wipes her mouth 1 and says, “I have done nothing wrong.” 1
21Under three things the earth trembles, 1 and under four it cannot bear up: 1
22a slave when he becomes king; 1 a fool when he is filled with food; 1
23a hated woman when she marries; 1 and a maid when she takes the place of her mistress. 1
24Four things on earth are small 1 and yet they are very wise: 1
25the ants are creatures that are not strong, 1 but they prepare their food in the summer; 1
26the rock badgers are not mighty creatures, 1 but they make their homes in the rocks. 1
27Locusts have no king, 1 but all of them march in rank. 1
28As for the lizard, you can hold it in your two hands, 1 yet they are found in kings' palaces. 1
29There are three things that are stately in their stride 1 and four that are stately in how they walk: 1
30a lion, strongest among wild animals— 1 it does not turn away from anything; 1
31a strutting rooster; a goat; 1 and a king whose soldiers are beside him. 1
32If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, 1 or if you have been devising evil— 1 put your hand over your mouth. 1
33As churning milk makes butter 1 and as one's nose will produce blood if it is twisted, 1 so deeds done in anger produce conflict.