Verse 1
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Verse 2
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
Verse 3
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
Verse 4
Who hath ascended up 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?
Verse 5
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Verse 6
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Verse 7
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
Verse 8
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Verse 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.
Verse 10
Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
Verse 11
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Verse 12
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Verse 13
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
Verse 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.
Verse 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:
Verse 16
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
Verse 17
The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
Verse 18
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
Verse 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.
Verse 20
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
Verse 21
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
Verse 22
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
Verse 23
For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
Verse 24
There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
Verse 25
The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
Verse 26
The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
Verse 27
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
Verse 28
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
Verse 29
There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
Verse 30
A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
Verse 31
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
Verse 32
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Verse 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.