Proverbs 30

1These are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh — an oracle. This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2Surely I am more foolish than anyone else; I do not have a human's understanding.

3I have not learned wisdom, and I do not have knowledge of the Holy One.

4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in cupped hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has set in place all the ends of the earth? What is that person's name, and what is that person's son's name — tell me if you know!

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

6Do not add to God's words, or God will correct you and prove you a liar.

7Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die:

8Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only the food I need.

9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny you and say: Who is the LORD? Or I may become poor and steal, and dishonor the name of my God.

10Do not slander a servant to that servant's master, or the servant will curse you, and you will be found guilty.

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

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

13There is a generation whose eyes are ever so proud, whose glances are so arrogant.

14There is a generation whose teeth are swords, whose jaws are knives, to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among people.

15The leech has two daughters, and they always cry: Give! Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say: Enough!

16The grave, the childless womb, land that never gets enough water, and fire that never says: Enough!

17The eye that mocks a father, and refuses to obey a mother, will be picked out by ravens in the valley and eaten by young vultures.

18There are three things too amazing for me, four that 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 in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman.

20This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says: I have done nothing wrong.

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

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

23An unloved woman who gets married, and a servant girl who takes her mistress's place.

24Four things on earth are small, but they are extremely wise:

25Ants are not strong, yet they store up their food in summer;

26Hyraxes are creatures with little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;

27Locusts have no king, yet they all advance together in ranks;

28A lizard can be caught with the hands, yet it lives inside kings' palaces.

29There are three things that walk with fine bearing, four that move with grace:

30A lion, mightiest among beasts, who backs down from nothing,

31A strutting rooster, a male goat, and a king whom no one dares to challenge.

32If you have been foolish and exalted yourself, or if you have plotted evil, stop talking and put your hand over your mouth!

33As churning milk produces butter, and twisting a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces conflict.