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Proverbs 30

The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the prophecy—the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal: Surely I am more brutish than any man, and I don't have the understanding of a man. I haven't learned wisdom or gained knowledge of the holy. Who has gone up into heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the wa

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The words of Agur

The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the prophecy—the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal: Surely I am more brutish than any man, and I don't have the understanding of a man. I haven't learned wisdom or gained knowledge of the holy. Who has gone up into heaven and come down? 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? Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who put their trust in him. Don't add to his words, or he'll rebuke you and you'll be found a liar. Two things I ask of you; don't deny them to me before I die: Keep deceit and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food suitable for me, or I may be full and deny you, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Don't accuse a servant to his master, or he may curse you and you be found guilty. There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that thinks it's pure, yet it hasn't been washed clean of its filth. There is a generation with such lofty eyes, with eyelids lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaw teeth are knives, devouring the poor from the earth and the needy from among men.

The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the message. The man spoke to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ukal: Surely I'm more stupid than any man, and I haven't got the understanding of a man. I haven't learned wisdom or got the knowledge of the holy. Who's gone up into heaven or come down? Who's gathered the wind in his fists? Who's tied up the waters in a garment? Who's set up all the ends of the earth? What's his name, and what's his son's name, if you can tell? Every word of God is pure. He's a shield to the ones who put their trust in him. Don't add to his words, or he'll tell you off and you'll be found a liar. I've asked two things of you. Don't hold them back from me before I die. Put emptiness and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food I need — or I'll be full and deny you and say, Who's the Lord? Or I'll be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Don't accuse a servant to his master, or he'll curse you and you'll be found guilty. There's a generation that curses its father and doesn't bless its mother. There's a generation that's pure in its own eyes and isn't washed from its filth. There's a generation — how high their eyes are, and their eyelids are lifted up. There's a generation whose teeth are like swords and their jaw teeth like knives, to eat up the poor from the earth and the needy from among men.

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 brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 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 unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 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: 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. Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 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.

1

The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the prophecy—the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal:

Plain English

The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the message. The man spoke to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ukal:

King James Version, 1611

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and I don't have the understanding of a man.

Plain English

Surely I'm more stupid than any man, and I haven't got the understanding of a man.

King James Version, 1611

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

3

I haven't learned wisdom or gained knowledge of the holy.

Plain English

I haven't learned wisdom or got the knowledge of the holy.

King James Version, 1611

I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4

Who has gone up into heaven and come down? 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?

Plain English

Who's gone up into heaven or come down? Who's gathered the wind in his fists? Who's tied up the waters in a garment? Who's set up all the ends of the earth? What's his name, and what's his son's name, if you can tell?

King James Version, 1611

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?

5

Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who put their trust in him.

Plain English

Every word of God is pure. He's a shield to the ones who put their trust in him.

King James Version, 1611

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6

Don't add to his words, or he'll rebuke you and you'll be found a liar.

Plain English

Don't add to his words, or he'll tell you off and you'll be found a liar.

King James Version, 1611

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

7

Two things I ask of you; don't deny them to me before I die:

Plain English

I've asked two things of you. Don't hold them back from me before I die.

King James Version, 1611

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

8

Keep deceit and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food suitable for me,

Plain English

Put emptiness and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food I need —

King James Version, 1611

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9

or I may be full and deny you, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Plain English

or I'll be full and deny you and say, Who's the Lord? Or I'll be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

King James Version, 1611

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.

10

Don't accuse a servant to his master, or he may curse you and you be found guilty.

Plain English

Don't accuse a servant to his master, or he'll curse you and you'll be found guilty.

King James Version, 1611

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

11

There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother.

Plain English

There's a generation that curses its father and doesn't bless its mother.

King James Version, 1611

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

12

There is a generation that thinks it's pure, yet it hasn't been washed clean of its filth.

Plain English

There's a generation that's pure in its own eyes and isn't washed from its filth.

King James Version, 1611

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

13

There is a generation with such lofty eyes, with eyelids lifted up.

Plain English

There's a generation — how high their eyes are, and their eyelids are lifted up.

King James Version, 1611

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

14

There is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaw teeth are knives, devouring the poor from the earth and the needy from among men.

Plain English

There's a generation whose teeth are like swords and their jaw teeth like knives, to eat up the poor from the earth and the needy from among men.

King James Version, 1611

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.

Three things, and four

The leech has two daughters, crying, ‘Give, give.’ There are three things that are never satisfied—yes, four that never say, ‘Enough’: the grave, the barren womb, the earth that is never filled with water, and the fire that never says, ‘Enough.’ The eye that mocks his father and despises obeying his mother—the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it. There are three things too wonderful for me—yes, four I don't understand: the 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 young woman. This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats, wipes her mouth and says, ‘I've done nothing wrong.’ For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four it cannot bear up: a servant when he reigns, a fool when he is full of food, a hateful woman when she is married, and a servant girl who takes her mistress's place. There are four things on earth that are small, yet remarkably wise: the ants are a people with little strength, yet they prepare their food in summer; the conies are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the rocks; the locusts have no king, yet they all march out in ranks; the spider takes hold with her hands and lives in kings' palaces. There are three things that move well—yes, four that are stately in their going: a lion, strongest among beasts, which does not turn away from any, a greyhound, a he goat, and a king against whom there is no rising up. If you've acted foolishly by lifting yourself up, or if you've thought evil, put your hand over your mouth. For churning milk brings forth butter, wringing the nose brings forth blood, and forcing anger brings forth conflict.

The leech has two daughters, crying: Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four that never say: Enough — the grave, and the barren womb, the earth that isn't filled with water, and the fire that never says: Enough. The eye that mocks at his father and sneers at obeying his mother — the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it. There are three things too wonderful for me, yes, four I don't know — the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman. That's the way of an adulterous woman. She eats and wipes her mouth and says: I've done nothing wrong. For three things the earth is troubled, and for four it can't put up with it — for a servant when he rules, and a fool when he's filled with food, for a hateful woman when she's married, and a servant girl who takes the place of her mistress. There are four things that are little on the earth, but they're very wise — the ants are a people with no strength, but they get their food ready in the summer. The rock badgers are only a weak lot, but they make their houses in the rocks. The locusts have no king, but they all go out in ranks. The lizard takes hold with her hands and is in kings' palaces. There are three things that step out well, yes, four that go well — a lion, that's strongest among animals and doesn't turn away from anything, a strutting rooster, and a male goat, and a king nobody gets up against. If you've been foolish in lifting yourself up, or if you've thought evil, put your hand on your mouth. Because churning milk brings out butter, and wringing the nose brings out blood. That's how forcing anger brings out fighting.

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 not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. 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 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 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 eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. 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 meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces. There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. 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 bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

15

The leech has two daughters, crying, ‘Give, give.’ There are three things that are never satisfied—yes, four that never say, ‘Enough’:

Plain English

The leech has two daughters, crying: Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four that never say: Enough —

King James Version, 1611

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

16

the grave, the barren womb, the earth that is never filled with water, and the fire that never says, ‘Enough.’

Plain English

the grave, and the barren womb, the earth that isn't filled with water, and the fire that never says: Enough.

King James Version, 1611

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 mocks his father and despises obeying his mother—the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.

Plain English

The eye that mocks at his father and sneers at obeying his mother — the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.

King James Version, 1611

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.

18

There are three things too wonderful for me—yes, four I don't understand:

Plain English

There are three things too wonderful for me, yes, four I don't know —

King James Version, 1611

There be 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 on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman.

Plain English

the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman.

King James Version, 1611

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.

20

This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats, wipes her mouth and says, ‘I've done nothing wrong.’

Plain English

That's the way of an adulterous woman. She eats and wipes her mouth and says: I've done nothing wrong.

King James Version, 1611

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 it cannot bear up:

Plain English

For three things the earth is troubled, and for four it can't put up with it —

King James Version, 1611

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

22

a servant when he reigns, a fool when he is full of food,

Plain English

for a servant when he rules, and a fool when he's filled with food,

King James Version, 1611

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

23

a hateful woman when she is married, and a servant girl who takes her mistress's place.

Plain English

for a hateful woman when she's married, and a servant girl who takes the place of her mistress.

King James Version, 1611

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

24

There are four things on earth that are small, yet remarkably wise:

Plain English

There are four things that are little on the earth, but they're very wise —

King James Version, 1611

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

25

the ants are a people with little strength, yet they prepare their food in summer;

Plain English

the ants are a people with no strength, but they get their food ready in the summer.

King James Version, 1611

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

26

the conies are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the rocks;

Plain English

The rock badgers are only a weak lot, but they make their houses in the rocks.

King James Version, 1611

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

27

the locusts have no king, yet they all march out in ranks;

Plain English

The locusts have no king, but they all go out in ranks.

King James Version, 1611

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

28

the spider takes hold with her hands and lives in kings' palaces.

Plain English

The lizard takes hold with her hands and is in kings' palaces.

King James Version, 1611

The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

29

There are three things that move well—yes, four that are stately in their going:

Plain English

There are three things that step out well, yes, four that go well —

King James Version, 1611

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

30

a lion, strongest among beasts, which does not turn away from any,

Plain English

a lion, that's strongest among animals and doesn't turn away from anything,

King James Version, 1611

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

31

a greyhound, a he goat, and a king against whom there is no rising up.

Plain English

a strutting rooster, and a male goat, and a king nobody gets up against.

King James Version, 1611

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

32

If you've acted foolishly by lifting yourself up, or if you've thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.

Plain English

If you've been foolish in lifting yourself up, or if you've thought evil, put your hand on your mouth.

King James Version, 1611

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

33

For churning milk brings forth butter, wringing the nose brings forth blood, and forcing anger brings forth conflict.

Plain English

Because churning milk brings out butter, and wringing the nose brings out blood. That's how forcing anger brings out fighting.

King James Version, 1611

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.