1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the oracle. The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man;
3And I have not learned wisdom, Nor have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
5Every word of God is tested: He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6Do not add to his words, Lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7Two things I have asked of you; Do not deny them to me before I die:
8Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needed for me:
9Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is Yehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.
10Do not slander a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11There is a generation that curses their father, And does not bless their mother.
12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
14There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15The leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, Yes, four that do not say, Enough:
16Sheol; and the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that does not say, Enough.
17The eye that mocks at his father, And despises to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.
18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not know:
19The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent on a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.
20So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eats, and wipes her mouth, And says, I have done no wickedness.
21For three things the earth trembles, And for four, which it cannot bear:
22For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;
23For an odious woman when she is married; And a maidservant who is heir to her mistress.
24There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:
25The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer;
26The rock badgers are but a feeble folk, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;
28The lizard takes hold with her hands, Yet she is in kings’ palaces.
29There are three things which are stately in their march, Yes, four which are stately in going:
30The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And does not turn away for any;
31The greyhound; the male goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.
32If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, Or if you have thought evil, Lay your hand on your mouth.
33For the churning of milk brings forth butter, And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; So the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.