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, his utterance. This man declared 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 do not have 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 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, 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 “ 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 to those who 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 to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

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

Two things I request of You (Deprive me not 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 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, 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 You, And say, “Who is the Lord ?” Or lest I be poor 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 malign a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you 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 its father, And does not bless its 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 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! Their eyelids are lifted up.

There 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 their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

There 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 “ 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 and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”:

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

The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire 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 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 “ 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, 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 middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.

The 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 “ 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 wickedness.”

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

For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up:

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

For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,

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

A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds 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 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 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 rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;

27 T he locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.

The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks;

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

The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And 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 majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk:

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

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

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

A greyhound, A male goat also, And a king whose troops are 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 devised 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 as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife.