Proverbs 30

The Sayings of Agur

¹These sayings are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. These sayings came from God.

This man said to Ithiel:

“I am weary, God.

But I can still have success.

²Surely I am only a dumb animal and not a man.

I don’t understand as other men do.

³I haven’t learned wisdom.

And I don’t know the things the Holy One knows.

⁴Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Whose hands have gathered up the wind?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a coat?

Who has set in place all the boundaries of the earth?

What is his name? What is his son’s name?

Surely you know!

⁵“Every word of God is perfect.

He is like a shield to those who trust in him.

He keeps them safe.

⁶Don’t add to his words.

If you do, he will correct you.

He will prove that you are a liar.

⁷“Lord , I ask you for two things.

Don’t refuse me before I die.

⁸Keep lies far away from me.

Don’t make me either poor or rich,

but give me only the bread I need each day.

⁹If you don’t, I might have too much.

Then I might say I don’t know you.

I might say, ‘Who is the Lord ?’

Or I might become poor and steal.

Then I would bring shame to the name of my God.

¹⁰“Don’t tell lies about a servant when you talk to their master.

If you do, they will curse you, and you will pay for your lies.

¹¹“Some people curse their fathers.

Others don’t bless their mothers.

¹²Some are pure in their own eyes.

But their dirty sins haven’t been washed away.

¹³Some have eyes that are very proud.

They look down on others.

¹⁴Some people have teeth like swords.

The teeth in their jaws are as sharp as knives.

They are ready to eat up the poor people of the earth.

They are ready to eat up those who are the most needy.

¹⁵“A leech has two daughters.

They cry out, ‘Give! Give!’

“Three things are never satisfied.

¹⁷“One person makes fun of their father.

Another doesn’t honor their mother when she is old.

The ravens of the valley will peck out their eyes.

Then the vultures will eat them.

¹⁸“Three things are too amazing for me.

²⁰“This is the way of a woman who commits adultery.

She eats and wipes her mouth.

Then she says, ‘I haven’t done anything wrong.’

²¹“Under three things the earth shakes.

²⁴“Four things on earth are small.

²⁹“Three things walk as if they were kings.

³²“Do you do foolish things?

Do you think you are better than others?

Do you plan evil?

If you do, put your hand over your mouth and stop talking!

³³If you churn cream, you will produce butter.

If you twist a nose, you will produce blood.

And if you stir up anger, you will produce a fight.”