Proverbs 30
30
Wise Sayings of Agur Son of Jakeh
1These are the wise sayings of Agur son of Jakeh from Massa. He says, “God, I am tired, so tired. How can I keep going?”#30:1 He says, “God, … keep going?” Or “This is his message to Ithiel and Ucal.”
2I am stupid. I am not as smart as other people are. 3I have not learned to be wise. I know nothing about the Holy One.#30:3 Holy One Literally, “the holy ones.” 4Who has ever gone up to heaven and come back down? Who gathered the winds in his hand? Who can gather up all the water in his lap? Who set the limits for the world? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Do you know?
5You can trust this: Every word that God speaks is true. God is a safe place for those who go to him. 6So don’t try to change what God says. If you do, he will punish you and prove that you are a liar.
7God, I ask you to do two things for me before I die. 8Don’t let me tell lies. And don’t make me too rich or too poor—give me only enough food for each day. 9If I have too much, I might deny that I need you, Lord. But if I am too poor, I might steal and bring shame to the name of my God.
10Never say bad things about a slave to his master. If you do, he will curse you, and you will suffer for it.
11Some people curse their fathers and refuse to bless their mothers.
12Some people think they are pure, but they have done nothing to remove the filth of their sin.
13Some people are so proud of themselves, and they look down on everyone else.
14There are people whose teeth are like swords and their jaws like knives. They take everything they can from the poor.
15Greedy people know only two things#30:15 Literally, “A leech has two daughters.”: “Give me,” and “Give me.” There are three other things that are never satisfied—really, four things that never have enough: 16the place of death, a woman with no children, dry ground that needs rain, and a fire that will never stop by itself.
17People who make fun of their father or refuse to obey their mother should have their eyes plucked out by wild birds and be eaten by vultures.
18There are three things that are hard for me to understand—really, four things that I don’t understand: 19an eagle flying in the sky, a snake moving on a rock, a ship moving across the ocean, and a man in love with a woman.
20A woman who is not faithful to her husband acts innocent. She eats, wipes her mouth, and says she has done nothing wrong.
21There are three things that make trouble on the earth—really, four that the earth cannot bear: 22a slave who becomes a king, fools who have everything they need, 23a woman whose husband hated her but still married her, and a servant girl who becomes ruler over the woman she serves.
24There are four things on the earth that are small but very wise:
25Ants are small and weak, but they save their food all summer;
26badgers are small animals, but they make their homes in the rocks;
27locusts have no king, but they are able to work together;
28lizards are small enough to catch with your hands, but you can find them living in kings’ palaces.
29There are three things that act important when they walk—really, there are four:
30a lion—he is the warrior of the animals and runs from nothing,
31a rooster walking proudly,#30:31 a rooster walking proudly Or possibly, “a greyhound” or “a war horse.”
a goat,
and a king among his people.
32If you have been foolish enough to become proud and make plans against other people, stop and think about what you are doing.
33Stirring milk causes butter to form. Hitting someone’s nose causes blood to flow. And making people angry causes trouble.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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.
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