Chapter 30
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh , the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 " Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.
3 I have not learnt wisdom , neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One .
4 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 flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him .
6 Don’t you add to his words , lest he reprove you , and you be found a liar .
7 " Two things I have asked of you . Don’t deny me before I die .
8 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 , deny you , and say, ‘ Who is the LORD ?’ or lest I be poor , and steal , and so dishonour the name of my God .
10 "Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you , and you be held guilty.
11 There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes , yet are not washed from their filthiness .
13 There is a generation , oh how lofty are their eyes ! Their eyelids are lifted up .
14 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 amongst men.
15 " The leech has two daughters : ‘ Give , give .’ "There are three things that are never satisfied ; four that don’t say, ‘ Enough !’:
16 Sheol , the barren womb , the earth that is not satisfied with water , and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘ Enough !’
17 " 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 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 on a rock , the way of a ship in the middle of the sea , and the way of a man with a maiden .
20 " 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 trembles , and under four , it can ’t bear up :
22 For a servant when he is king , a fool when he is filled with food ,
23 for an unloved woman when she is married , and a servant who is heir to her mistress .
24 " There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise :
25 The ants are not a strong people , yet they provide their food in the summer .
26 The hyraxes are but a feeble folk , yet make they their houses in the rocks .
27 The locusts have no king , yet they advance in ranks .
28 You can catch a lizard with your hands , yet it is in kings ’ palaces .
29 " There are three things which are stately in their march , four which are stately in going :
30 The lion , which is mightiest amongst animals, and doesn’t turn away for any ;
31 the greyhound ; the male goat ; and the king against whom there is no rising up .
32 "If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself , or if you have thought evil , put your hand over your mouth .
33 For as the churning of milk produces butter , and the wringing of the nose produces blood , so the forcing of wrath produces strife ."