The Word Am I

The Proverbs

Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 30 -

Utterances of Agur. Personal testimony

1
THE WORDS OF AGUR THE SONNE OF JAKEH. The prophecie which ye man spake vnto Ithiel, euen to Ithiel, and Vcal.
2
Surely I am more foolish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man in me.
3
For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.
4
Who hath ascended vp to heauen, and descended? Who hath gathered the winde in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the endes of the world? What is his name, and what is his sonnes name, if thou canst tell?
5
Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.
6
Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.
7
Two things haue I required of thee: denie me them not before I die.
8
Remooue farre from me vanitie and lyes: giue me not pouertie, nor riches: feede me with foode conuenient for me,
9
Least I be full, and denie thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or least I be poore and steale, and take the Name of my God in vaine.

Numerical parables

10
Accuse not a seruant vnto his master, lest he curse thee, when thou hast offended.
11
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.
12
There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceite, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.
13
There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.
14
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swordes, and their chawes as kniues to eate vp the afflicted out of the earth, and the poore from among men.
15
The horse leache hath two daughters which crye, Giue, giue. There be three things that will not be satisfied: yea, foure that say not, It is ynough.
16
The graue, and the barren wombe, the earth that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that sayeth not, It is ynough.
17
The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let ye rauens of the valley picke it out, and the yong eagles eate it.
18
There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,
19
The way of an eagle in the aire, the way of a serpent vpon a stone, ye way of a ship in ye middes of the sea, and the way of a man with a maide.
20
Such is ye way also of an adulterous woman: she eateth and wipeth her mouth, and sayth, I haue not committed iniquitie.
21
For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:
22
For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when he is filled with meate,
23
For the hatefull woman, when she is married, and for a handmaid that is heire to her mistres.
24
These be foure small things in the earth, yet they are wise and full of wisedome:
25
The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:
26
The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:
27
The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:
28
The spider taketh holde with her handes, and is in Kings palaces.
29
There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,
30
A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:
31
A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.
32
If thou hast bene foolish in lifting thy selfe vp, and if thou hast thought wickedly, lay thine hand vpon thy mouth.
33
When one churneth milke, he bringeth foorth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out: so he that forceth wrath, bringeth foorth strife.

Utterances of Agur. Personal testimony

1
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2
Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.
3
I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4
Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
5
Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6
Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7
Two things I have asked of you. Don’t deny me before I die.
8
Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9
lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Numerical parables

10
“Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11
There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.
12
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13
There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
14
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15
The leech has two daughters:Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’:
16
Sheol,(a) the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough!’
17
The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
18
There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:
19
The way of an eagle in the air, 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 maiden.
20
So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21
For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up:
22
For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,
23
for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
24
There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25
The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
26
The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
27
The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
28
You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kingspalaces.
29
There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
30
The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;
31
the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
32
“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33
For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”

Footnotes

(a)30:16 Sheol is the place of the dead.