Proverbs 30
30
1The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa.#30.1 Or the oracle
The man says to Ithi-el,
to Ithi-el and Ucal:#30.1 The Hebrew of this verse is obscure
2Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know!
5Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
7Two things I ask of thee;
deny them not to me before I die:
8Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9lest I be full, and deny thee,
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor, and steal,
and profane the name of my God.
10Do not slander a servant to his master,
lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12There are those who are pure in their own eyes
but are not cleansed of their filth.
13There are those—how lofty are their eyes,
how high their eyelids lift!
14There are those whose teeth are swords,
whose teeth are knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth,
the needy from among men.
15The leech#30.15 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain has two daughters;
“Give, give,” they cry.
Three things are never satisfied;
four never say, “Enough”:
16Sheol, the barren womb,
the earth ever thirsty for water,
and the fire which never says, “Enough.”#30.16 Heb obscure
17The eye that mocks a father
and scorns to obey a mother
will be picked out by the ravens of the valley
and eaten by the vultures.
18Three things are too wonderful for me;
four I do not understand:
19the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a maiden.
20This is the way of an adulteress:
she eats, and wipes her mouth,
and says, “I have done no wrong.”
21Under three things the earth trembles;
under four it cannot bear up:
22a slave when he becomes king,
and a fool when he is filled with food;
23an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.
24Four things on earth are small,
but they are exceedingly wise:
25the ants are a people not strong,
yet they provide their food in the summer;
26the badgers are a people not mighty,
yet they make their homes in the rocks;
27the locusts have no king,
yet all of them march in rank;
28the lizard you can take in your hands,
yet it is in kings' palaces.
29Three things are stately in their tread;
four are stately in their stride:
30the lion, which is mightiest among beasts
and does not turn back before any;
31the strutting cock,#30.31 Gk Syr Tg Compare Vg: Heb obscure the he-goat,
and a king striding before#30.31 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain his people.
32If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth.
33For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 30: RSV-C
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 30
30
1The words of Aḡur son of Yaqeh, a message. This man declared to Ithi’ĕl, to Ithi’ĕl and Uḵal:
2For I am more stupid than anyone, And do not have the understanding of a man.
3And I have not learned wisdom That I should know the knowledge of the Set-apart One.
4Who has gone up to the heavens and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name, And what is His Son’s Name, If you know it?
5Every Word of Eloah is tried;#See Psa. 12:6; Psa. 18:30 He is a shield to those taking refuge in Him.
6Do not add to His Words,#See Deu. 4:2; Deu. 12:32; Rev. 22:18, 19 Lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7Two matters I have asked of You – Deny them not to me before I die:
8Remove falsehood and a lying word far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me my lawfull bread;
9Lest I become satisfied and deny You, And say, “Who is יהוה?” And lest I be poor, and steal, And seize the Name of my Elohim.
10Do not slander a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, And you be found guilty.
11There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother –
12There is a generation, clean in its own eyes, But not washed from its own filth.
13There is a generation; Oh, how haughty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
14There is a generation whose teeth are swords, And whose jaw-teeth are knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.
15The leech has two daughters: “Give! Give!” Three are not satisfied, Four that never say, “Enough”:
16She’ol, and the barren womb, Soil not satisfied with water, And fire which never says, “Enough.”
17An eye that mocks his father, And scorns to obey his mother – Ravens of the wadi dig it out, And young eagles eat it!
18Three matters are too marvellous for me, And four which I do not understand:
19The way of an eagle in the heavens, 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 young woman.#See Explanatory Notes "Maiden"
20This is the way of an adulterous woman: She shall eat and wipe her mouth, and say, “I have not done wickedness.”
21Under three matters the earth trembles, And under four, it is unable to bear:
22Under a servant when he reigns, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23Under a hated woman who marries, And a female servant who supplants her mistress.
24There are four matters Which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:
25The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26The rock badgers are a weak folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;
27The locusts have no sovereign, Yet they all go out in formation;
28A spider takes hold with two hands, And is in sovereigns’ palaces.
29There are three matters That are going well, And four are good in walking:
30A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from facing all;
31A greyhound, and a male goat, And a sovereign whose army is with him.
32If you have been foolish in lifting up yourself, Or if you have plotted evil, Put your hand on your mouth.
33For as milk under pressure brings forth curds, And as a nose under pressure brings forth blood, So wrath under pressure brings forth strife.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright© 1993 – 2015 by the Institute for Scripture Research (ISR). All rights reserved.