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

2 S urely I am more carnal than any man and have not the understanding of a man.

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

4 W ho has ascended up 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 thou canst tell?

5 E very word of God is pure: he is a shield unto those that put their trust in him.

6 D o not add unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

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

8 R emove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread of my judgment:

9 L est I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and blaspheme the name of my God.

10 ¶ Do not accuse a slave in the presence of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 T here is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.

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

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

14 T here is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their molars as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the destitute from among men.

15 ¶ The horseleach has two daughters, which are called, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16 S heol; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that never says, It is enough.

17 T he eye that mocks at his father, and despises the teaching of his mother, the ravens shall pluck it out of the river, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 ¶ There are three things which are hidden from me, yea, four which I know not:

19 T he track of the eagle in the air; the track of the serpent upon the rock; the track of the ship in the midst of the sea; and the track of the man in the maid.

20 S uch is the track of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wickedness.

21 F or three things the earth is disquieted, and the fourth it cannot bear:

22 F or a slave when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with bread;

23 f or a rejected woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 ¶ There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are wiser than the wise men:

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

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

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

28 t he spider takes hold with her hands and is in kings’ palaces.

29 ¶ There are three things which have a magnificent walk; yea, the fourth is stately in going:

30 T he lion which is strongest among beasts and does not turn away for any;

31 t he greyhound who is girded up of loins; a he goat also, and the king, against whom no one rises up.

32 I f thou hast fallen, it is because thou hast lifted thyself up; and if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy 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.