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, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

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

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

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

Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

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

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

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

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

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

Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me 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;

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

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.

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

Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

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

There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.

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

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

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

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

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

The leech has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, “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, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, “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 a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will 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 too wonderful for me, 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 middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.

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

This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wrong.”

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

Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:

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

Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

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

Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

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

Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

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

The ants are not a strong people, But 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 shephanim are not mighty people, 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 out in ranks;

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

The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it 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 are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

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

The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,

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

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

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

If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your 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.”

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