Proverbs 30

1 The words of Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur’s prophetic revelation.[To God]This man’s declaration:“I’m weary, O God.I’m weary and worn out, O God.

Agur Speaks About God

2 I’m more like a dumb animal than a human being.I don’t even have human understanding.3 I haven’t learned wisdom.I don’t have knowledge of the Holy One.t[To the audience]4 “Who has gone up to heaven and come down?Who has gathered the wind in the palm of his hand?Who has wrapped water in a garment?Who has set up the earth from one end to the other?What is his name or the name of his son?Certainly, you must know!5 “Every word of God has proven to be true.He is a shield to those who come to him for protection.6 Do not add to his words,or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar.[To God]

A Prayer

7 “I’ve asked you for two things.Don’t keep them from me before I die:8 Keep vanity and lies far away from me.Don’t give me either poverty or riches.Feed me only the food I need,9 or I may feel satisfied and deny youand say, ‘Who is the Lord?’or I may become poor and stealand give the name of my God a bad reputation.[To the audience]

Against Slander

10 “Do not slander a slave to his master.The slave will curse you,and you will be found guilty.”

Four Kinds of People

11 A certain kind of person curses his fatherand does not bless his mother.12 A certain kind of person thinks he is purebut is not washed from his own feces.t13 A certain kind of person looks around arrogantlyand is conceited.14 A certain kind of person,whose teeth are like swordsand whose jaws are like knives,devours oppressed people from the earthand people from among humanity.

Human Bloodsuckers

15 The bloodsucking leech has two daughters—“Give!” and “Give!”Three things are never satisfied.Four never say, “Enough!”:

Four Things That Are Never Satisfied

16 the grave,a barren womb,a land that never gets enough water,a fire that does not say, “Enough!”

Disrespectful Children—Their Punishment

17 The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a motherwill be plucked out by ravens in the valley and eaten by young vultures.

Four Things of Intrigue

18 Three things are too amazing to me,even four that I cannot understand:19 an eagle making its way through the sky,a snake making its way over a rock,a ship making its way through high seas,a man making his way with a virgin.

About the Woman Who Commits Adultery

20 This is the way of a woman who commits adultery:She eats, wipes her mouth,and says, “I haven’t done anything wrong!”

Four Things That Are Intolerable

21 Three things cause the earth to tremble,even four it cannot bear up under:22 a slave when he becomes king,a godless fool when he is filled with food,23 a woman who is unloved when she gets married,a maid when she replaces her mistress.

Four Things That Are Small—Yet Smart and Strong

24 Four things on earth are small,yet they are very wise:25 Ants are not a strong species,yet they store their food in summer.26 Rock badgers are not a mighty species,yet they make their home in the rocks.27 Locusts have no king,yet all of them divide into swarms by instinct.28 A lizard you can hold in your hands,yet it can even be found in royal palaces.

Four Things That Move With Dignity

29 There are three things that walk with dignity,even four that march with dignity:30 a lion, mightiest among animals, which turns away from nothing,31 a strutting rooster,ta male goat,a king at the head of his army.t

Keep Calm and Quiet

32 If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself,or if you scheme,you had better put your hand over your mouth.33 As churning milk produces butterand punching a nose produces blood,so stirring up angert produces a fight.

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 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 vultures will eat
the rest of you.

18 There are three or four things
I cannot understand:

19 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 cocks,
those mountain goats,
and those rulers
who have no enemies.t

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

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