1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2âSurely I am the most ignorant man, and donât have a manâs understanding.
3I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have 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 sonâs name, if you know?
5âEvery word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6Donât you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7âTwo things I have asked of you. Donât deny me before I die.
8Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9lest I be full, deny you, and say, âWho is the LORD?â or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10âDonât slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11There is a generation that curses their father, and doesnât bless their mother.
12There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
14There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15âThe leech has two daughters: âGive, give.â âThere are three things that are never satisfied; four that donât say, âEnough!â:
16Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesnât say, âEnough!â
17âThe eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
18âThere are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I donât understand:
19The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20âSo is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, âI have done nothing wrong.â
21âFor three things the earth trembles, and under four, it canât bear up:
22For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,
23for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
24âThere are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
26The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
27The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
28You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kingsâ palaces.
29âThere are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
30The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesnât turn away for any;
31the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
32âIf you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.â