1 T he words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

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

2 “ Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.

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

3 I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

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

4 W ho has ascended up 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?

Who has ascended up 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 thou canst tell?

5 “ Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

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

6 D on’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

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

7 “ Two things I have asked of you; don’t deny me before I die:

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

8 R emove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread of my judgment:

9 l est I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor 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 blaspheme the name of my God.

10 “ Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

¶ Do not accuse a slave in the presence of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 T here is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.

There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.

12 T here is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.

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

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

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

14 T here is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their molars as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the destitute from among men.

15 “ The leach has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough:’

¶ The horseleach has two daughters, which are called, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16 S heol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough.’

Sheol; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that never says, It is enough.

17 “ The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother: the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.

The eye that mocks at his father, and despises the teaching of his mother, the ravens shall pluck it out of the river, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 “ There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:

¶ There are three things which are hidden from me, yea, four which I know not:

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 middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.

The track of the eagle in the air; the track of the serpent upon the rock; the track of the ship in the midst of the sea; and the track of the man in the maid.

20 “ So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

Such is the track of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wickedness.

21 “ For three things the earth tremble, and under four, it can’t bear up:

For three things the earth is disquieted, and the fourth it cannot bear:

22 F or a servant when he is king; a fool when he is filled with food;

For a slave when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with bread;

23 f or an unloved woman when she is married; and a servant who is heir to her mistress.

for a rejected woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 “ There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

¶ There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are wiser than the wise men:

25 t he ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.

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

26 T he conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they 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, yet they advance in ranks.

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

28 Y ou can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.

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

29 “ There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:

¶ There are three things which have a magnificent walk; yea, the fourth is stately in going:

30 T he lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;

The lion which is strongest among beasts and does not turn away for any;

31 t he greyhound, the male goat also; and the king against whom there is no rising up.

the greyhound who is girded up of loins; a he goat also, and the king, against whom no one rises up.

32 “ If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.

If thou hast fallen, it is because thou hast lifted thyself up; and if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

33 F or as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood; so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”

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.