Sprüche 30 | New International Reader’s Version

1 These 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. 2 Surely I am only a dumb animal and not a man. I don’t understand as other men do. 3 I haven’t learned wisdom. And I don’t know the things the Holy One knows. 4 Who 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. 6 Don’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. 8 Keep lies far away from me. Don’t make me either poor or rich, but give me only the bread I need each day. 9 If 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. 12 Some are pure in their own eyes. But their dirty sins haven’t been washed away. 13 Some have eyes that are very proud. They look down on others. 14 Some 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. Four things never say, “Enough!” 16 The first is the grave. The second is a woman who can’t have a baby. The third is land, which never gets enough water. And the fourth is fire, which never says, “Enough!” 17 ‘One person makes fun of their father. Another doesn’t honour 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. There are four things I don’t understand. 19 The first is the way of an eagle in the sky. The second is the way of a snake on a rock. The third is the way of a ship on the ocean. And the fourth is the way of a man with a young woman. 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. Under four things it can’t stand up. 22 The first is a servant who becomes a king. The second is a foolish and ungodly person who gets plenty to eat. 23 The third is a mean woman who gets married. And the fourth is a servant who takes the place of the woman she works for. 24 ‘Four things on earth are small. But they are very wise. 25 The first are ants, which aren’t very strong. But they store up their food in the summer. 26 The second are hyraxes, which aren’t very powerful. But they make their home among the rocks. 27 The third are locusts, which don’t have a king. But they all march forward in ranks. 28 And the fourth are lizards, which your hand can catch. But you will find them in kings’ palaces. 29 ‘Three things walk as if they were kings. Four things move as kings do. 30 The first is a lion, which is mighty among the animals. It doesn’t back away from anything. 31 The second is a cockerel, which walks proudly. The third is a billy goat. And the fourth is a king, who is secure against any who might oppose him. 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! 33 If 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.’

English Standard Version

The Words of Agur

1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.* The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.* 2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! 5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. 7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. 10 Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. 11 There are those* who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. 12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. 13 There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! 14 There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. 15 The leech has two daughters: Give and Give.* Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: 16 Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.” 17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. 18 Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin. 20 This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.” 21 Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: 22 a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; 23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress. 24 Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: 25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; 26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; 27 the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; 28 the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces. 29 Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: 30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; 31 the strutting rooster,* the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him.* 32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. 33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

Sprüche 30 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

The Words of Agur