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

¶ 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 brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

Surely 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.

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

4 W ho 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?

Who 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 them that put their trust in him.

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

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

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

7 T wo things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

¶ 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 food convenient for me:

Remove 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 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 blaspheme the name of my God.

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

¶ 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 curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

There 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.

There 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.

There 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 jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

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

¶ 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 T he grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

Sheol; 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 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.

The 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 T here be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

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

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 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 way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

Such 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 for four which it cannot bear:

For three things the earth is disquieted, and the fourth it cannot bear:

22 F or a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

For a slave when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with bread;

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

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

24 T here be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

¶ 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 meat in the summer;

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

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

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

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

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

28 T he spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

the spider takes hold with her hands and is in kings’ palaces.

29 T here be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

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

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

The lion which is strongest among beasts and does not turn away for any;

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

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

If 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 bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

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.