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
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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