Proverbs 30

Chapter 30

The Sayings of Agur

1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.t
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.t2 I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!5 Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.6 Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.10 Never slander a worker to the employer,
or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.11 Some people curse their father
and do not thank their mother.12 They are pure in their own eyes,
but they are filthy and unwashed.13 They look proudly around,
casting disdainful glances.14 They have teeth like swords
and fangs like knives.
They devour the poor from the earth
and the needy from among humanity.15 The leech has two suckers
that cry out, “More, more!”t
There are three things that are never satisfied—
no, four that never say, “Enough!”:16 the grave,t
the barren womb,
the thirsty desert,
the blazing fire.17 The eye that mocks a father
and despises a mother’s instructions
will be plucked out by ravens of the valley
and eaten by vultures.18 There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:19 how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.20 An adulterous woman consumes a man,
then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”21 There are three things that make the earth tremble—
no, four it cannot endure:22 a slave who becomes a king,
an overbearing fool who prospers,23 a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,
a servant girl who supplants her mistress.24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:25 Ants—they aren’t strong,
but they store up food all summer.26 Hyraxest—they aren’t powerful,
but they make their homes among the rocks.27 Locusts—they have no king,
but they march in formation.28 Lizards—they are easy to catch,
but they are found even in kings’ palaces.29 There are three things that walk with stately stride—
no, four that strut about:30 the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,31 the strutting rooster,
the male goat,
a king as he leads his army.32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,
cover your mouth in shame.33 As the beating of cream yields butter
and striking the nose causes bleeding,
so stirring up anger causes quarrels.

PROVERBS 30

The Sayings of Agur

1 These are the sayings
and the message
of Agur son of Jakeh.
Someone cries out to God,
“I am completely worn out!
How can I last?t

2 I am far too stupid
to be considered human.

3 I never was wise,
and I don't understand
what God is like.”

4  t Has anyone gone up to heaven
and come back down?
Has anyone grabbed hold
of the wind?
Has anyone wrapped up the sea
or marked out boundaries
for the earth?
If you know of any
who have done such things,
then tell me their names
and their children's names.

5 Everything God says is true—
and it's a shield for all
who come to him for safety.

6 Don't change what God has said!
He will correct you and show
that you are a liar.

7 There are two things, Lord,
I want you to do for me
before I die:

8 Make me absolutely honest
and don't let me be too poor
or too rich.
Give me just what I need.

9 If I have too much to eat,
I might forget about you;
if I don't have enough,
I might steal
and disgrace your name.

10 Don't tell a slave owner
something bad about one
of the slaves.
That slave will curse you,
and you will be in trouble.

11 Some people curse their father
and even their mother;

12 others think they are perfect,
but they are stained by sin.

13 Some people are stuck-up
and act like snobs;

14 others are so greedy
that they gobble up
the poor and homeless.

15 Greedt has twins,
each named “Give me!”
There are three or four things
that are never satisfied:

16 The world of the dead
and a childless wife,
the thirsty earth
and a flaming fire.

17 Don't make fun of your father
or disobey your mother—
crows will peck out your eyes,
and buzzards will eat
the rest of you.

18 There are three or four things
I cannot understand:

19  t How eagles fly so high
or snakes crawl on rocks,
how ships sail the ocean
or people fall in love.

20 An unfaithful wife says,
“Sleeping with another man
is as natural as eating.”

21 There are three or four things
that make the earth tremble
and are unbearable:

22 A slave who becomes king,
a fool who eats too much,

23 a hateful woman
who finds a husband,
and a slave who takes the place
of the woman who owns her.

24 On this earth four things
are small but very wise:

25 Ants, who seem to be feeble,
but store up food
all summer long;

26 badgers, who seem to be weak,
but live among the rocks;

27 locusts, who have no king,
but march like an army;

28 lizards, t which can be caught
in your hand,
but sneak into palaces.

29 Three or four creatures
really strut around:

30 Those fearless lions
who rule the jungle,

31 those proud roosters,
those mountain goats,
and those rulers
who have no enemies.t

32 If you are foolishly bragging
or planning something evil,
then stop it now!

33 If you churn milk
you get butter;
if you pound on your nose,
you get blood—
and if you stay angry,
you get in trouble.