New American Standard Bible 1995

NET Bible

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

1The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle: This man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal:

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

2Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding;

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

3I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One.

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!

4Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? 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 his son's name?--if you know!

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

5Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.

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

6Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.

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

7Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die:

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

8Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,

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.

9lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.

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

10Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.

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

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

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

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

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

13There is a generation whose eyes are so lofty, and whose eyelids are lifted up disdainfully.

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.

14There is a generation whose teeth are like swords and whose molars are like knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among the human race.

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

15The leech has two daughters: "Give! Give!" There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, "Enough"--

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

16the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, "Enough!"

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.

17The eye that mocks at a father and despises obeying a mother--the ravens of the valley will peck it out and the young vultures will eat it.

18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:

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

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.

19the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a woman.

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

20This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, "I have not done wrong."

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

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

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

22under a servant who becomes king, under a fool who is stuffed with food,

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

23under an unloved woman who is married, and under a female servant who dispossesses her mistress.

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

24There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:

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

25ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;

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

26rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags;

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

27locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks;

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

28a lizard you can catch with the hand, but it gets into the palaces of the king.

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

29There are three things that are magnificent in their step, four things that move about magnificently:

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

30a lion, mightiest of the beasts, who does not retreat from anything;

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

31a strutting rooster, a male goat, and a king with his army around him.

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

32If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!

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

33For as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

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

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.