1 T he words of Agur the son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ithiel and Ucal:

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

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

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

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

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

4 W ho 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!

Who 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?

5 E very word of God has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him.

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

6 D o not add to His words, or He will speak strong words to you and prove you to be a liar.

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

7 T wo things I have asked of You. Do not keep me from having them before I die:

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

8 T ake lies and what is false far from me. Do not let me be poor or rich. Feed me with the food that I need.

remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 T hen 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.

lest 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.

10 D o not speak against a slave while talking with his owner, or he may curse you and you will be found guilty.

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

11 T here are those who curse their fathers, and do not honor their mothers.

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12 T here are people who are pure in their own eyes, but are not washed from their own dirt.

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

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

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

14 T here 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.

There 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.

15 T he 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”:

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

16 T he place of the dead, the woman who cannot have children, the earth that is always thirsty for water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”

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

17 T he 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.

The 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.

18 T here are three things which are too great for me, four which I do not understand:

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

19 T he 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.

the 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.

20 T his 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.”

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

21 U nder three things the earth shakes, and under four it cannot stand:

For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

22 U nder a servant when he becomes king, under a fool when he is filled with food,

for a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

23 u nder 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.

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

24 T here are four things that are small on the earth, but they are very wise:

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

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

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

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

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

27 T he locusts have no king, but they go as an army.

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

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

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

29 T here are three things which have honor in their steps, even four which show honor in their walk:

There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30 T he lion, which is powerful among wild animals and does not turn away from any,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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