1 T he words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa: The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 S urely I am too brutish and stupid to be called a man, and I have not the understanding of a man.

Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man.

3 I have not learned skillful and godly Wisdom, that I should have the knowledge or burden of the Holy One.

Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 W ho has ascended 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 Son’s name, if you know?

Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!

5 E very word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6 A dd not to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar.

Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

7 T wo things have I asked of You; deny them not to me before I die:

Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:

8 R emove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,

Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,

9 L est I be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God.

That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord ?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

10 D o not accuse and hurt a servant before his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

11 T here is a class of people who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.

12 T here is a class of people who are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their own filth.

There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

13 T here is a class of people—oh, how lofty are their eyes and their raised eyelids!

There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

14 T here is a class of people whose teeth are as swords and whose fangs as knives, to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among men.

There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.

15 T he leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give! There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four that do not say, It is enough:

The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “Enough”:

16 S heol (the place of the dead), the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that says not, It is enough.

Sheol, and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, “Enough.”

17 T he eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young vultures will devour it.

The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

18 T here are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand:

There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:

19 T he 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.

The way of an eagle in the sky, 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 maid.

20 T his is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, I have done no wickedness.

This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wrong.”

21 U nder three things the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up:

Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:

22 U nder a servant when he reigns, a fool when he is filled with food,

Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

23 A n unloved and repugnant woman when she is married, and a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

24 T here are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

25 T he ants are a people not strong, yet they lay up their food in the summer;

The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

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

The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27 T he locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands;

The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;

28 T he lizard you can seize with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.

The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

29 T here are three things which are stately in step, yes, four which are stately in their stride:

There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

30 T he lion, which is mightiest among beasts and turns not back before any;

The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,

31 T he war horse, the male goat also, and the king against whom there is no uprising.

The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king when his army is with him.

32 I f you have done foolishly in exalting yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth.

If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.

33 S urely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.

For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.