The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. [1]
4 Who hath ascended into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him. [2]
6 Add thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny them not to me before I die: [3]
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: [4]
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain . [5]
10 Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. [6]
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 eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty 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 devour 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, It is enough: [7]
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at its father, and despiseth to obey its mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. [8]
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. [9]
20 Such 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 a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food;
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are very wise: [10]
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble people, yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; [11]
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
29 There are three things which go well, yea, four are stately in going:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 A greyhound; a male goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. [12]
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
CHAP. 31.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. [13] [14]
6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that are of heavy hearts. [15]
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. [16]
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
- ↑ have: Heb. know
- ↑ pure: Heb. purified
- ↑ deny...: Heb. withhold not from me
- ↑ convenient...: Heb. of my allowance
- ↑ deny...: Heb. belie thee
- ↑ Accuse...: Heb. Hurt not with thy tongue
- ↑ It is...: Heb. Wealth
- ↑ the valley: or, the brook
- ↑ midst: Heb. heart
- ↑ exceeding...: Heb. wise, made wise
- ↑ by...: Heb. gathered together
- ↑ greyhound: or, horse: Heb. girt in the loins
- ↑ prevert: Heb. alter
- ↑ of any...: Heb. of all the sons of affliction
- ↑ of...: Heb. bitter of soul
- ↑ such...: Heb. the sons of destruction
