30 2 To humble ourselves in consideration of God’s works. 5 The word of God is perfect. 11 Of the wicked and hypocrites. 15 Of things that are never satiate. 18 Of others that are wonderful.
THE WORDS OF [a]AGUR THE SON OF JAKEH.
1 The prophecy which the man spake unto Ithiel, even to [b]Ithiel, and Ucal.
2 Surely I am more [c]foolish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man in me.
3 For I have not learned wisdom, nor attained to the knowledge of holy things.
4 Who hath ascended up to [d]heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the world? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
5 (A)Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to those that trust in him.
6 (B)Put nothing unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Two [e]things have I required of thee: deny me them not before I die.
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me not poverty, nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me,
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, [f]Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain.
10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, [g]when thou hast offended.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own conceit, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation whose eyes are haughty, and their eye lids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their chaws as knives to eat up the afflicted out of the earth, and the poor from among men.
15 The horseleech hath two [h]daughters which cry, Give, give. There be three things that will not be satisfied: yea, four that say not, It is enough.
16 The grave, and the barren womb, the earth, that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let the ravens [i]of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.
18 There be three things hid from me: yea, four that I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a stone, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.
20 Such is the way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and [j]wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have not committed iniquity.
21 For three things the earth is moved: yea, for four it cannot sustain itself.
22 For [k]a servant when he reigneth, and a fool when he is filled with meat,
23 For the hateful woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is [l]heir to her mistress.
24 These be four small things in the earth, yet they are [m]wise, and full of wisdom.
25 The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meat in summer:
26 The conies a people not mighty, yet make they their houses in the rock:
27 The grasshopper hath no king, yet go they forth all by bands:
28 The spider taketh hold [n]with her hands, and is in king’s palaces.
29 There be three things that order well their going: yea, four are comely in going:
30 A lion which is strong among beasts, and turneth not at the sight of any:
31 A lusty greyhound, and a goat, and a king against whom there is no rising up.
32 If thou hast been foolish in lifting thyself up, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand [o]upon thy mouth.
33 When one churneth milk, he bringeth forth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out, so he that forceth wrath, bringeth forth strife.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 30:1 Who was an excellent man in virtue and knowledge in the time of Solomon.
- Proverbs 30:1 Which were Agur’s scholars or friends.
- Proverbs 30:2 Herein he declareth his great humility, who would not attribute any wisdom to himself, but all unto God.
- Proverbs 30:4 Meaning, to know the secrets of God, as though he would say, None.
- Proverbs 30:7 He maketh this request to God.
- Proverbs 30:9 Meaning, that they that put their trust in their riches, forget God, and that by too much wealth men have an occasion to the same.
- Proverbs 30:10 In accusing him without cause.
- Proverbs 30:15 The leech hath two forks in her tongue, which here he calleth her two daughters, whereby she sucketh the blood, and is never satiated: even so are the covetous extortioners insatiable.
- Proverbs 30:17 Which haunt in the valley for carrions.
- Proverbs 30:20 She hath her desires, and after counterfeiteth as though she were an honest woman.
- Proverbs 30:22 These commonly abuse the state whereunto they are called.
- Proverbs 30:23 Which is married to her master after the death of her mistress.
- Proverbs 30:24 They contain great doctrine and wisdom.
- Proverbs 30:28 If man be not able to compass these common things by his wisdom, we cannot attribute wisdom to man, but folly.
- Proverbs 30:32 Make a stay, and continue not in doing evil.