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

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

3 N either 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 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 tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

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

7 T wo things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:

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

9 T hat 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 slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

11 T here is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.

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

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

14 T here 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, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “Enough”:

16 S heol, 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 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, Four which I do not understand:

19 T he 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 wrong.”

21 U nder three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:

22 U nder a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

23 U nder an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

24 F our things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

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

26 T he shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27 T he locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;

28 T he lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

29 T here are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

30 T he lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,

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

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

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