The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, indeed the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal,
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Surely I am more ignorant than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man.
Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the Holy One.
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound 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, if you can tell?
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?
Every word of God is pure: He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Two things I have requested of You; do not deny me before I die:
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Lest I be full and deny You, and say, Who is the LORD? Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
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.
Do not accuse a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.
Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes and yet is not cleansed from their filthiness.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes, and their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose jaws are like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
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.
The leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, indeed four that say not, It is enough:
The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
The grave, and the barren womb, the earth that is never filled with water, and the fire that never says, It is enough.
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
The eye that mocks his father and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
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.
There are three things which are too wonderful for me, indeed four which I do not know:
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a snake upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.
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.
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats and wipes her mouth and says, I have done no wrong.
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
For three things the earth is disturbed, and for four it cannot bear:
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
For a servant when he reigns, and a fool when he is filled with food;
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
For an unloved woman when she is married, and a maidservant who is heir to her mistress.
For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
There are four things which are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
The rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
The locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them in ranks;
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
The spider skillfully grasps with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
There are three things that go well, indeed four that are comely in going:
There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
A lion, which is mighty among beasts, and does not turn away from anything;
A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
A greyhound, a male goat also, and a king against whom there is no rising up.
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
If you have acted foolishly in exalting yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand on your mouth.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.
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.