Words of Agur

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2Surely I am more senseless than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

3I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4Who 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 you can tell?

5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6Add not unto his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

7Two things have I required of you; deny me not them before I die:

8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food needful for me:

9Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.

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

13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

15The leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that says not, It is enough.

17The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young vultures shall eat it.

18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.

20This is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wickedness.

21For three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

22For a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with food;

23For an unloved woman when she is married; and a maidservant that is heir to her mistress.

24There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;

26The badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27The locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands;

28The spider takes hold with its hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29There are three things which are stately in stride, yea, four are stately in their walk:

30A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turns not away from any;

31A greyhound; a male goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand upon your mouth.

33Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.