1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the oracle. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man:
3 And I have not learned wisdom, neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in his garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou knowest?
5 Every word of God is tried: he is a shield unto them that trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Two things have I asked of thee; deny methemnot before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me:
9 Lest I be full, and denythee, and say, Who is theLord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and use profanely the name of my God.
10 Slander not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes; andyetare not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, Oh how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation whose teeth areasswords, and their jaw teethasknives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters,Crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied,yea, four that say not, Enough:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that saith not, Enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19 The 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 maid.
20 So is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21 For three things the earth doth tremble, and for four,whichit cannot bear:
22 For a servant when he is king; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their meat in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 The lizard taketh hold with her hands, yet is she in kings’ palaces,
29 There be three things which are stately in their march, yea, four which are stately in going:
30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 The greyhound; the he-goat also; and the king, against whom there is no rising up.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil,laythine hand upon thy mouth.
33 For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.