Proverbs

¹ The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

² I do not have a man’s understanding.

³ nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

⁴ Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!

⁵ he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

⁶ or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

⁷ do not refuse me before I die:

⁸ give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

⁹ and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

¹⁰ or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.

¹¹ and do not bless their mothers;

¹² and yet are not cleansed of their filth;

¹³ whose glances are so disdainful;

¹⁴ and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind.

¹⁵ ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

¹⁶ land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

¹⁷ that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.

¹⁸ four that I do not understand:

¹⁹ the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.

²⁰ She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

²¹ under four it cannot bear up:

²² a fool who is full of food,

²³ and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.

²⁴ yet they are extremely wise:

²⁵ yet they store up their food in the summer;

²⁶ yet they make their home in the crags;

²⁷ yet they advance together in ranks;

²⁸ yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

²⁹ four that move with stately bearing:

³⁰ who retreats before nothing;

³¹ and a king with his army around him.

³² or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!

³³ and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”