Proverbs 30
30
The Words of Agur
1These are the solemn words of Agur son of Jakeh:
“God is not with me, God is not with me,
and I am helpless.#30.1 Probable text “God… helpless; Hebrew unclear.
2I am more like an animal than a human being;
I do not have the sense a human being should have.
3I have never learned any wisdom,
and I know nothing at all about God.
4Who has ever mastered heavenly knowledge?
Who has ever caught the wind in his hand?
Or wrapped up water in a piece of cloth?
Or fixed the boundaries of the earth?
Who is he, if you know? Who is his son?
5“God keeps every promise he makes. He is like a shield for all who seek his protection. 6If you claim that he said something that he never said, he will reprimand you and show that you are a liar.”
More Proverbs
7I ask you, God, to let me have two things before I die: 8keep me from lying, and let me be neither rich nor poor. So give me only as much food as I need. 9If I have more, I might say that I do not need you. But if I am poor, I might steal and bring disgrace on my God.
10Never criticize servants to their master. You will be cursed and suffer for it.
11There are people who curse their fathers and do not show their appreciation for their mothers.
12There are people who think they are pure when they are as filthy as they can be.
13There are people who think they are so good — oh, how good they think they are!
14There are people who take cruel advantage of the poor and needy; that is the way they make their living.
15A leech has two daughters, and both are named “Give me!”
There are four things that are never satisfied:
16the world of the dead,
a woman without children,
dry ground that needs rain,
and a fire burning out of control.
17Those who make fun of their father or despise their mother in her old age#30.17 One ancient translation mother in her old age; Hebrew mother's obedience. ought to be eaten by vultures or have their eyes picked out by wild ravens.
18There are four things that are too mysterious for me to understand:
19an eagle flying in the sky,
a snake moving on a rock,
a ship finding its way over the sea,
and a man and a woman falling in love.
20This is how an unfaithful wife acts: she commits adultery, has a bath, and says, “But I haven't done anything wrong!”
21There are four things that the earth itself cannot tolerate:
22a slave who becomes a king,
a fool who has all he wants to eat,
23a hateful woman who gets married,
and a servant woman who takes the place of her mistress.
24There are four animals in the world that are small, but very, very clever:
25Ants: they are weak, but they store up their food in the summer.
26Rock-badgers: they are not strong either, but they make their homes among the rocks.
27Locusts: they have no king, but they move in formation.
28Lizards: you can hold one in your hand, but you can find them in palaces.
29There are four things that are impressive to watch as they walk:
30lions, strongest of all animals and afraid of none;
31goats,
strutting cocks,
and kings in front of their people.#30.31 Verse 31 in Hebrew is unclear.
32If you have been foolish enough to be arrogant and plan evil, stop and think! 33If you churn milk, you get butter. If you hit someone's nose, it bleeds. If you stir up anger, you get into trouble.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Mishlei (Pro) 30
30
1The words of Agur the son of Yakeh, the prophecy. The man says to Iti’el, to Iti’el and Ukhal:
2I am more boorish than anyone,
I lack human discernment;
3I have not learned enough wisdom
to know the Holy One.
4Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has cupped the wind in the palms of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who 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’s is pure;
he shields those taking refuge in him.
6Don’t add anything to his words;
or he will rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
7[God,] I have asked two things of you;
don’t deny them to me as long as I live —
8keep falsehood and futility far from me,
and give me neither poverty nor wealth.
Yes, provide just the food I need today;
9for if I have too much, I might deny you
and say, “Who is Adonai?”
And if I am poor, I might steal
and thus profane the name of my God.
10Never disparage a slave to his master,
or he will curse you, and you will deserve it.
11There is a type of people who curse their fathers
and don’t bless their mothers.
12There is a type of people clean in their own view,
but not cleansed from their filth.
13There is a type of people — how haughty their look! —
utterly supercilious!
14There is a type of people whose teeth are like swords,
yes, their fangs are knives;
they devour the poor from the earth,
the needy from humankind.
15The leech has two daughters;
they cry, “Give! Give!”
Three things are never satisfied;
four never say, “Enough!” —
16Sh’ol and a barren womb;
the earth, never satisfied with water;
and fire, which never says, “Enough!”
17The eye that mocks his father
and scorns obeying his mother
will be pecked out by the ravens in the valley,
and the vultures will eat it.
18Three things are too wonderful for me,
four beyond my knowledge —
19the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the open sea,
and the way of a man with a girl.
20This is how an unfaithful wife behaves:
she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, “I did nothing wrong.”
21Three things make the earth quake,
four things it can’t bear —
22a slave who becomes king,
a boor gorged with food,
23a hated [wife] when her husband takes her [back],
and a slave-girl who inherits from her mistress.
24Four things on the earth are small;
nevertheless, they are very wise —
25the ants, a species not strong,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
26the coneys, a species with little power,
yet they make their home in the rocks;
27the locusts, who have no king,
yet they all march out in ranks;
28and the spiders, which you can catch in your hand,
yet they are in the king’s palace.
29Three things are stately in their stride,
four of stately gait —
30the lion, mightiest of beasts,
which turns aside for none;
31the greyhound, the billy-goat
and the king when his army is with him.
32If you have been boorish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been scheming,
lay your hand on your mouth.
33For as pressing milk produces butter
and pressing the nose produces blood,
so pressing out anger produces strife.
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