Chapter 30

  The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,  

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  Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.  

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  I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.  

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  Who hath ascended into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?  

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  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him.  

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  Add thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.  

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  Two things have I required of thee; deny them not to me before I die:  

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  Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:  

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  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.  

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  Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.  

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  There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.  

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

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  There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.  

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  There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw-teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.  

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  The horse-leech hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things say not, It is enough:  

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  The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.  

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  The eye that mocketh at its father, and despiseth to obey its mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.  

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  There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not:  

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  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.  

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  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.  

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  For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:  

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  For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food.  

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  For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.  

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  There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are very wise:  

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

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  The conies are but a feeble people, yet they make their houses in the rocks;  

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  The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;  

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  The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king's palaces.  

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  There are three things which go well, yes, four are comely in going:  

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  A lion, which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;  

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  A greyhound; a he-goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.  

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  If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.  

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  Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.  

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