1 ¶ Palabras de Agur, hijo de Jaqué: La profecía que dijo el varón a Itiel, a Itiel y a Ucal.

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 C iertamente más rudo soy yo que ninguno, ni tengo entendimiento de hombre.

For sure, I am more foolish than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man.

3 Y o ni aprendí sabiduría, ni conozco la teología.

I have not learned wisdom, and I do not know much about the Holy One.

4 ¿ Quién subió al cielo, y descendió? ¿Quién encerró los vientos en sus puños? ¿Quién ató las aguas en un paño? ¿Quién afirmó todos los términos de la tierra? ¿Cuál es su nombre, y el nombre de su hijo, si sabes?

Who has gone up into heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has gathered the waters in His coat? Who has put in place all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? For sure you know!

5 T oda palabra de Dios es limpia; es escudo a los que en él esperan.

Every word of God has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him.

6 N o añadas a sus palabras, para que no te reprenda, y seas hallado mentiroso.

Do not add to His words, or He will speak strong words to you and prove you to be a liar.

7 ¶ Dos cosas te he demandado; no me las niegues antes que muera:

Two things I have asked of You. Do not keep me from having them before I die:

8 V anidad y palabra mentirosa aparta de mí; no me des pobreza ni riquezas; manténme del pan de mi juicio;

Take lies and what is false far from me. Do not let me be poor or rich. Feed me with the food that I need.

9 p ara que no me sacie, y te niegue, y diga, ¿Quién es el SEÑOR? O no sea que siendo pobre, hurte, y blasfeme el nombre de mi Dios.

Then I will not be afraid that I will be full and turn my back against You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And I will not be afraid that I will be poor and steal, and bring shame on the name of my God.

10 ¶ No acuses al siervo ante su señor, para que no te maldiga, y peques.

Do not speak against a slave while talking with his owner, or he may curse you and you will be found guilty.

11 H ay generación que maldice a su padre, y a su madre no bendice.

There are those who curse their fathers, and do not honor their mothers.

12 H ay generación limpia en su opinión, y nunca se ha limpiado su inmundicia.

There are people who are pure in their own eyes, but are not washed from their own dirt.

13 H ay generación cuyos ojos son altivos, y cuyos párpados son alzados.

There is a kind, O, how proud are his eyes! His eyes are opened wide with pride.

14 H ay generación cuyos dientes son espadas, y sus muelas cuchillos, para devorar de la tierra a los pobres, y de entre los hombres a los menesterosos.

There is a kind of man whose teeth are swords, whose jaws are like knives, who eat up those who are suffering from the earth, and those in need from among men.

15 ¶ La sanguijuela tiene dos hijas que se llaman, dame, dame. Tres cosas hay que nunca se sacian; aun la cuarta nunca dice, basta:

The one who lives by the blood of another has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that are never filled, four that never say, “Enough”:

16 E l Seol, y la matriz estéril, la tierra que no se sacie de aguas, y el fuego que jamás dice: Basta.

The place of the dead, the woman who cannot have children, the earth that is always thirsty for water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”

17 E l ojo que escarnece a su padre, y menosprecia la enseñanza de la madre, los cuervos lo saquen del río, y lo devoren los hijos del águila.

The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the young eagles.

18 ¶ Tres cosas me son ocultas; aun tampoco sé la cuarta:

There are three things which are too great for me, four which I do not understand:

19 E l rastro del águila en el aire; el rastro de la culebra sobre la peña; el rastro de la nave en medio del mar; y el rastro del hombre en la doncella.

The way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship out at sea, and the way of a man with a woman.

20 T al es el rastro de la mujer adúltera, come, y limpia su boca, y dice: No he hecho maldad.

This is the way of a woman who is not faithful in marriage: She eats and washes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong.”

21 P or tres cosas se alborota la tierra, y la cuarta no puede sufrir:

Under three things the earth shakes, and under four it cannot stand:

22 P or el siervo cuando reinare; y por el loco cuando se saciare de pan;

Under a servant when he becomes king, under a fool when he is filled with food,

23 p or la mujer aborrecida cuando se casare; y por la sierva cuando heredare a su señora.

under a woman who is not loved when she gets a husband, and under a woman servant when she takes the place of the woman of the house.

24 ¶ Cuatro cosas son de las más pequeñas de la tierra, y las mismas son más sabias que los sabios:

There are four things that are small on the earth, but they are very wise:

25 L as hormigas, pueblo no fuerte, y en el verano preparan su comida;

The ants are not a strong people, but they store up their food in the summer.

26 l os conejos, pueblo no fuerte, y ponen su casa en la piedra;

The badgers are not a strong people, but they make their houses in the rocks.

27 l as langostas, no tienen rey, y salen todas acuadrilladas;

The locusts have no king, but they go as an army.

28 l a araña, ase con las manos, y está en palacios de rey.

You can take the lizard in your hands, but it is found in kings’ houses.

29 ¶ Tres cosas hay de hermoso andar, y la cuarta pasea muy bien:

There are three things which have honor in their steps, even four which show honor in their walk:

30 E l león, fuerte entre todos los animales, que no vuelve atrás por nadie;

The lion, which is powerful among wild animals and does not turn away from any,

31 e l lebrel ceñido de lomos; asimismo el macho cabrío; y el rey contra el cual ninguno se levanta.

the proud rooster, the male goat, and a king when his army is with him.

32 S i caíste, fue porque te enalteciste; y si mal pensaste, pon el dedo sobre la boca.

If you have been foolish in honoring yourself, or if you have planned wrong-doing, put your hand on your mouth.

33 C iertamente el que exprime la leche, sacará manteca; y el que recio se suena las narices, sacará sangre; y el que provoca la ira, causará contienda.

Shaking milk makes butter, and hitting the nose brings blood. So fighting comes because of anger.