Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.

2Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man.

3I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.

3Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!

4Who 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!

5Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

5Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.

6Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

7Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die:

7Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:

8Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.

8Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,

9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.

9That 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.

10Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.

10Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

11There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.

12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.

12There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—

13There is a kind-- oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

14there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.

14There 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.

15The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

15The leech has two daughters, "Give," "Give." There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, "Enough":

16Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’

16Sheol, and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, "Enough."

17As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

17The 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.

18There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not 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 maiden.

19The 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.

20This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

20This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong."

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

21Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:

22a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,

22Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

23an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.

23Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

24Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:

24Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

25The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

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

26the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;

26The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;

27The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;

28and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

28The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.

29There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:

29There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

30a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;

30The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,

31a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.

31The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king when his army is with him.

32If you have foolishly exalted yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.

32If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.

33For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”

33For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

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New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org