Proverbs

Proverbs 30 ©

1 Agur's confession of his own simplicity. 5 The purity of God's word, and danger of adding thereto. 7 The two points of Agur's prayer. 10 A servant not to be wrongfully accused. 11 Four wicked generations. 15 Four things insatiable. 17 Parents not to be despised. 18 Four things hard to be known. 24 Four things little, but wise. 29 Four things stately. 32 Silence in case of error the way to prevent wrath.

1

THE awords of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the bprophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2

cSurely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

3

I dneither learned wisdom, nor 1have the knowledge of the holy.

4

eWho hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? fwho hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? gwhat is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

5

hEvery word of God is 2pure: ihe is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6

jAdd thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7

Two things have I *required of thee; 3deny me them not before I die:

8

kRemove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; lfeed me with food 4*convenient for me:

9

mLest I be full, and 5deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? nor lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10

6Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11

There is a generation that ocurseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12

There is a generation that are ppure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

13

There is a generation, O how qlofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to rdevour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

15

The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, 7It is enough:

16

The sgrave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17

The teye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of 8the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19

The uway of an eagle in the air; the vway of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the 9midst of the sea; and the wway of a man with a maid.

20

xSuch is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21

For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

22

For ya servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with *meat;

23

For zan odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid athat is heir to her mistress.

24

There be four things which are blittle upon the earth, but they are 10exceeding wise:

25

The cants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their *meat in the summer;

26

The d*conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27

The elocusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them 11by bands;

28

The fspider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29

There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30

A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

31

12A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, gagainst whom there is no rising up.

32

If hthou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, ilay thine hand upon thy mouth.

33

Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: jso the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.