1 T he words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

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

3 I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.

4 W ho has ascended 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 you know?

5 E very word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

6 D o not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

7 T wo things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):

8 R emove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me;

9 L est I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord ?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

10 D o not malign a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11 T here is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.

12 T here is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

13 T here is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.

14 T here is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.

15 T he leech has two daughters— Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”:

16 T he grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”

17 T he eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his 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, Yes, four which I do not understand:

19 T he way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin.

20 T his is the way 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 perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up:

22 F or a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,

23 A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

24 T here are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

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

26 T he rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;

27 T he locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks;

28 T he spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.

29 T here are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk:

30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from any;

31 A greyhound, A male goat also, And a king whose troops are with him.

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

33 F or as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife.