LEB PROV Chapter 30

The Oracle of Agur

• 30 The words of Agur, son of Yakeh, the oracle.
  • Thus says the man to Ithiel, to Ithiel, and Ucal:[fn]
• 2 Certainly I am more stupid than a man,
  • and the understanding of humankind is not for me.
• 3 And I have not learned wisdom,
  • nor will I know knowledge of the Holy One.[fn]
• 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
  • Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of his hand?
  • Who has wrapped water in a[fn] garment?
  • Who has established all the ends of the earth?
  • What is his name and what is the name of his child?
  • For surely you know.
• 5 Every word of God is flawless;
  • he is a shield for him who takes refuge in him.
• 6 Do not add to his words
  • lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
• 7 Two things I ask from you;
  • do not deny me before I die:
• 8 Keep falsehood and a lying word[fn] far from me;
  • do not give me poverty or wealth;
  • provide me with food only for my need.
• 9 Or else I will be satisfied and will deny him
  • and say “Who is Yahweh?”
• Or[fn] I will be poor and will steal
  • and profane the name of my God.
• 10 Do not slander a servant to his master,
  • or else he will curse you and you will be guilty.
• 11 There is a generation that will curse its father,
  • and its mother it will not bless.
• 12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
  • but from its filthiness it will not be cleansed.
• 13 There is a generation—how lofty are their eyes!
  • And their eyelids they will lift.
• 14 There is a generation whose teeth are swords,
  • and its jawbones, knives,
• in order to devour the poor from the earth[fn]
  • and the needy from humankind.
• 15 For the leech, there are two daughters;
  • “Give, give!” they cry.
• As for three of these, they are not satisfied;
  • as for four, they do not say enough.
• 16 Sheol[fn] and barrenness of womb,
  • the land is not satisfied with water,
  • and fire does not say “enough!”
• 17 The eye that mocks a father
  • and scorns the obedience of a mother—
• the ravens of the valley will peck it out,
  • and the offspring of vultures will eat it.
• 18 Three of these are too wonderful for me,
  • and four, I do not understand them:
• 19 the way of the eagle in the sky,
  • 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.
• 20 This is the way of a woman committing adultery:
  • she eats and wipes her mouth,
  • and says “I have not done wrong.”
• 21 Under three things the earth[fn] trembles,
  • and under four, it is not able to bear up:
• 22 under a slave when he becomes king,
  • and a fool when he is satisfied with food;
• 23 under an unloved woman when she gets married,
  • and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.
• 24 There are four small things on the earth,
  • and they are exceedingly wise :[fn]
• 25 The ants are a people who are not strong,
  • yet they prepare their food in the summer;
• 26 the badgers are a people who are not mighty,
  • yet they set their house on the rock;
• 27 there is no king for the locust,
  • yet it marches in rank;
• 28 a lizard you can seize with hands,
  • yet it is in palaces of kings.
• 29 There are three things that are magnificent of stride,
  • and four that are magnificent when moving:
• 30 a mighty lion among the beasts,[fn]
  • but he will not turn back from any face ;[fn]
• 31 a strutting rooster or he-goat,
  • and a king whose army is with him.
• 32 If you have been foolish by exalting yourself,
  • and if you have devised evil, put your hand to your mouth.
• 33 For pressing milk produces curd,
  • and pressing the nose produces blood,
  • so pressing anger[fn] produces strife.