The Words of Agur
1The wordsof Agurthe sonof Jakeh,[even] the prophecy:the manspakeunto Ithiel,even unto Ithieland Ucal,
2Surely I [am] more brutishthan [any] man,and have not the understandingof a man.
3I neither learnedwisdom,nor havethe knowledgeof the holy.
4Who hath ascended upinto heaven,or descended?who hath gatheredthe windin his fists?who hath boundthe watersin a garment?who hath establishedall the endsof the earth?what [is] his name,and what [is] his son'sname,if thou canst tell?
5Every wordof God[is] pure:he [is] a shieldunto them that put their trustin him.
6Addthou not unto his words,lest he reprovethee, and thou be found a liar.
7Two[things] have I requiredof thee; denyme [them] not before I die:
8Remove farfrom me vanityand lies:giveme neither povertynor riches;feedme with foodconvenientfor me:
9Lest I be full,and deny[thee], and say,Who [is] the LORD?or lest I be poor,and steal,and takethe nameof my God[in vain].
10Accusenot a servantunto his master,lest he cursethee, and thou be found guilty.
11[There is] a generation[that] curseththeir father,and doth not blesstheir mother.
12[There is] a generation[that are] purein their own eyes,and [yet] is not washedfrom their filthiness.
13[There is] a generation,O how loftyare their eyes!and their eyelidsare lifted up.
14[There is] a generation,whose teeth[are as] swords,and their jaw teeth[as] knives,to devourthe poorfrom off the earth,and the needyfrom [among] men.
15The horseleachhath twodaughters,[crying], Give,give.There are three[things that] are never satisfied,[yea], four[things] saynot, [It is] enough:
16The grave;and the barrenwomb;the earth[that] is not filledwith water;and the fire[that] saithnot, [It is] enough.
17The eye[that] mockethat [his] father,and despisethto obey[his] mother,the ravensof the valleyshall pick it out,and the youngeaglesshall eatit.
18There be three[things which] are too wonderfulfor me, yea, fourwhich I knownot:
19The wayof an eaglein the air;the wayof a serpentupon a rock;the wayof a shipin the midstof the sea;and the wayof a manwith a maid.
20Such [is] the wayof an adulterouswoman;she eateth,and wipethher mouth,and saith,I have doneno wickedness.
21For three[things] the earthis disquieted,and for four[which] it cannotbear:
22For a servantwhen he reigneth;and a foolwhen he is filledwith meat;
23For an odious[woman] when she is married;and an handmaidthat is heirto her mistress.
24There be four[things which are] littleupon the earth,but they [are] exceedingwise:
25The ants[are] a peoplenot strong,yet they preparetheir meatin the summer;
26The conies[are but] a feeblefolk,yet makethey their housesin the rocks;
27The locustshave no king,yet go they forthall of them by bands;
28The spidertaketh holdwith her hands,and is in kings'palaces.
29There be three[things] which gowell,yea, fourare comelyin going:
30A lion[which is] strongestamong beasts,and turneth not awayforany;
31A greyhound;an he goatalso;and a king,against whom [there is] no rising up.
32If thou hast done foolishlyin lifting upthyself, or if thou hast thought evil,[lay] thine handupon thy mouth.
33Surely the churningof milkbringeth forthbutter,and the wringingof the nosebringeth forthblood:so the forcingof wrathbringeth forthstrife.
