ProverbsChapter 30

Tap any verse to comment or suggest a better wording.

1These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh. This is the message this man spoke to Ithiel:
"I am tired, O God.
I am worn out.
2I am surely the most foolish of men.
I don't have the understanding of a man.
3I have not learned wisdom.
I don't have knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who has gone up to heaven and come back down?
Who has gathered the wind in his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his coat?
Who has set all the ends of the earth in place?
What is his name, and what is the name of his Son?
Surely you know!
5Every word of God is perfect.
He is a shield to those who run to him for safety.
6Do not add to his words.
If you do, he will correct you and show that you are a liar.
7I ask you for two things.
Do not say no to me before I die:
8Keep lies and false words far away from me.
Don't make me poor, and don't make me rich.
Feed me with the bread I need each day.
9If I have too much, I may turn away from you and say,
'Who is the LORD?'
Or I may become poor and steal.
Then I would dishonor the name of my God.
10Do not tell lies about a servant to his master.
If you do, he will curse you, and you will be guilty.
11There are people who curse their fathers.
They do not bless their mothers.
12There are people who think they are pure.
Yet they have not been washed of their filth.
13There are people whose eyes are so proud!
They look down on others.
14There are people whose teeth are swords.
Their jaws are knives.
They eat up the poor from the earth
and the needy from among people.
15The leech has two daughters.
They both cry, 'Give! Give!'
There are three things that are never satisfied.
There are four that never say, 'Enough!':
16the grave, a woman who cannot have children,
land that never has enough water,
and fire that never says, 'Enough!'a
17An eye may make fun of a father
and refuse to obey a mother.
May the ravens of the valley peck it out.
May young vultures eat it.
18There are three things too amazing for me.
There are four that I can't understand:
19the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
and the way of a man with a young woman.
20This is the way of a woman who cheats on her husband:
She eats and wipes her mouth.
Then she says, 'I haven't done anything wrong.'
21There are three things that make the earth shake.
There are four it cannot stand:
22a servant who becomes king,
a fool who has plenty of food,
23an unloved woman who gets married,
and a servant girl who takes her mistress's place.
24Four things on earth are small.
Yet they are very wise:
25Ants are not strong.
Yet they store up their food in the summer.
26Rock badgers are not powerful.
Yet they make their homes in the rocks.
27Locusts have no king.
Yet they all march forward in rows.
28A lizard can be caught in your hands.
Yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
29There are three things that walk with pride.
There are four that move in a grand way:
30a lion, the mightiest of animals,
which backs down from nothing;
31a rooster that struts; a male goat;
and a king with his army around him.
32Maybe you have foolishly made yourself look great.
Maybe you have planned evil.
If so, put your hand over your mouth.
33For churning milk makes butter.
Twisting the nose makes blood come out.
In the same way, stirring up anger makes fights."

Notes

  1. a 30:16 Hebrew: Sheol