1 P alabras de Agur, hijo de Jaqué: el oráculo. Declaración del hombre 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 soy el más torpe de los hombres, y no tengo inteligencia humana.

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

3 Y no he aprendido sabiduría, ni tengo conocimiento del Santo.

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

4 ¿ Quién subió al cielo y descendió ? ¿Quién recogió los vientos en sus puños? ¿Quién envolvió las aguas en su manto ? ¿Quién estableció todos los confines de la tierra ? ¿Cuál es su nombre o el nombre de su hijo? Ciertamente tú lo 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 P robada es toda palabra de Dios; El es escudo para los que en El se refugian.

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, no sea que El 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 D os cosas te he pedido, 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 A leja de mí la mentira y las palabras engañosas, no me des pobreza ni riqueza; dame a comer mi porción de pan,

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 n o sea que me sacie y te niegue, y diga: ¿Quién es el Señor ?, o que sea menesteroso y robe, y profane 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 N o difames al esclavo ante su amo, no sea que te acuse y seas hallado culpable.

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 gente que maldice a su padre, y no bendice a su madre;

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

12 g ente que se tiene por pura, pero no está limpia de su inmundicia;

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

13 g ente de ojos altivos, cuyos párpados se alzan en arrogancia;

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

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

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 L a sanguijuela tiene dos hijas, que dicen: ¡Da me! ¡Da me! Hay tres cosas que no se saciarán, y una cuarta que no dirá: ¡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, la matriz estéril, la tierra que jamás se sacia de agua, y el fuego que nunca 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 A l ojo que se mofa del padre, y escarnece a la madre, lo sacarán los cuervos del valle, y lo comerán los aguiluchos.

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 H ay tres cosas que son incomprensibles para mí, y una cuarta que no entiendo:

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

19 e l camino del águila en el cielo, el camino de la serpiente sobre la roca, el camino del barco en medio del mar, y el camino 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 A sí es el camino de la mujer adúltera: come, se limpia la boca, y dice: No he hecho nada malo.

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 tiembla la tierra, y por una cuarta no se puede sostener:

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

22 p or el esclavo cuando llega a ser rey, por el necio cuando se sacia de pan,

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

23 p or la mujer odiada cuando se casa, y por la sierva cuando suplanta 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 C uatro cosas son pequeñas en la tierra, pero son sumamente sabias:

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

25 l as hormigas, pueblo sin fuerza, que preparan su alimento en el verano;

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

26 l os tejones, pueblo sin poder, que hacen su casa en la peña;

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

27 l as langostas, que no tienen rey, pero todas salen en escuadrones;

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

28 y el lagarto, que se puede agarrar con las manos, pero está en los palacios de los reyes.

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

29 H ay tres cosas majestuosas en su marcha, y una cuarta de elegante caminar:

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

30 e l león, poderoso entre las fieras, que no retrocede ante ninguna;

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

31 e l gallo, que se pasea erguido, asimismo el macho cabrío, y el rey cuando tiene el ejército con él.

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

32 S i has sido necio en ensalzarte, o si has tramado el mal, pon la mano sobre tu boca;

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

33 p orque batiendo la leche se saca mantequilla, y apretando la nariz sale sangre, y forzando la ira se produce contienda.

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