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

The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa: The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to 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 too brutish and stupid to be called a man, and I have not the understanding of a man.

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

I have not learned skillful and godly Wisdom, that I should have the knowledge or burden of the Holy One.

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 has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in His 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 has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him.

Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge 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 not to His words, lest He reprove you, and you 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 asked of You; deny them not to me 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 falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful 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 You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God.

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

Do not accuse and hurt a servant before his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

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

There is a class of people who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

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

There is a class of people who are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their own filth.

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

There is a class of people—oh, how lofty are their eyes and their raised eyelids!

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 class of people whose teeth are as swords and whose fangs as knives, to devour the poor from 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 leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give! There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four that do not say, 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.”

Sheol (the place of the dead), the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that says 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 mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young vultures will devour it.

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

There 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 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.”

This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, I have done no wickedness.

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

Under three things the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up:

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

Under a servant when he reigns, a fool when he is filled with food,

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.

An unloved and repugnant woman when she is married, and a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

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

There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly 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 lay up their food 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 they make their houses in the rocks;

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

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

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

The lizard you can seize with your hands, yet it 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 are three things which are stately in step, yes, four which are stately in their stride:

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

The lion, which is mightiest among beasts and turns not back before any;

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

The war horse, the male goat also, and the king against whom there is no uprising.

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

If you have done foolishly in exalting yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth.

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

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.