The Words of Agur85

30:1 The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle:1

This2 man says3 to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal:4

30:2 Surely5 I am more brutish6 than any other human being,7

and I do not have human understanding;8

30:3 I have not learned wisdom,

nor do I have knowledge9 of the Holy One.10

30:4 Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended?11

Who has gathered up the winds in his fists?12

Who has bound up the waters in his cloak?13

Who has established all the ends of the earth?14

What is his name, and what is his son’s name?15—if you know!

30:5 Every word of God is purified;16

he is like17 a shield for those who take refuge in him.18

30:6 Do not add to his words,

lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.19

30:7 Two things20 I ask from you;21

do not refuse me before I die:

30:8 Remove falsehood and lies22 far from me;

do not give me poverty or riches,

feed me with my allotted portion23 of bread,24

30:9 lest I become satisfied and act deceptively25

and say, “Who is the Lord?”

Or lest I become poor and steal

and demean26 the name of my God.

30:10 Do not slander27 a servant to his master,

lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.28

30:11 There is a generation29 who curse their fathers

and do not bless their mothers.30

30:12 There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes

and yet are not washed31 from their filthiness.32

30:13 There is a generation whose eyes are so lofty,33

and whose eyelids are lifted up disdainfully.34

30:14 There is a generation whose teeth are like35 swords36

and whose molars37 are like knives

to devour38 the poor from the earth

and the needy from among the human race.

30:15 The leech39 has two daughters:40

“Give! Give!”41

There are three things that are never satisfied,

four42 that never say, “Enough”43—

30:16 the grave,44 the barren womb,45

land that is not satisfied with water,

and fire that never says, “Enough!”46

30:17 The eye47 that mocks at a father

and despises obeying48 a mother—

the ravens of the valley will peck it out

and the young vultures will eat it.49

30:18 There are three things that are too wonderful for me,50

four that I do not understand:

30:19 the way51 of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship in the sea,

and the way of a man with a woman.52

30:20 This is the way53 of an adulterous54 woman:

she eats and wipes her mouth55

and says, “I have not done wrong.”56

30:21 Under three things the earth trembles,57

and under four things it cannot bear up:

30:22 under a servant58 who becomes king,

under a fool who is stuffed with food,59

30:23 under an unloved60 woman who is married,

and under a female servant who dispossesses61 her mistress.

30:24 There are four things on earth that are small,62

but they are exceedingly wise:63

30:25 ants are creatures with little strength,

but they prepare64 their food in the summer;

30:26 rock badgers65 are creatures with little power,

but they make their homes in the crags;

30:27 locusts have no king,

but they all go forward by ranks;66

30:28 a lizard67 you can catch with the hand,

but it gets into the palaces of the king.68

30:29 There are three things that are magnificent69 in their step,

four things that move about magnificently:70

30:30 a lion, mightiest71 of the beasts,

who does not retreat from anything;

30:31 a strutting rooster,72 a male goat,

and a king with his army around him.73

30:32 If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself74

or if you have planned evil,

put75 your hand over your mouth!

30:33 For as the churning76 of milk produces butter

and as punching the nose produces blood,

so stirring up anger77 produces strife.78

The Words of Lemuel

31:1 The words of King Lemuel,1

an oracle2 that his mother taught him:

31:2 O3 my son, O son of my womb,

O son4 of my vows,

31:3 Do not give your strength5 to women,

nor your ways6 to that which ruins7 kings.

31:4 It is not for kings,8 O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,9

or for rulers to crave strong drink,10

31:5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed,

and remove11 from all the poor12 their legal rights.13

31:6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,14

and wine to those who are bitterly distressed;15

31:7 let them16 drink and forget17 their poverty,

and remember their misery no more.

31:8 Open your mouth18 on behalf of those unable to speak,19

for the legal rights of all the dying.20

31:9 Open your mouth, judge in righteousness,21

and plead the cause22 of the poor and needy.

The Wife of Noble Character23

31:10 Who can find24 a wife25 of noble character?26

For her value27 is far more than rubies.

31:11 The heart of her husband has confidence28 in her,

and he has no lack of gain.29

31:12 She brings him30 good and not evil31

all the days of her life.

31:13 She obtains32 wool and flax,

and she is pleased to work with her hands.33

31:14 She is like34 the merchant ships;35

she brings her food from afar.

31:15 She also gets up36 while it is still night,

and provides food37 for her household and a portion38 to her female servants.

31:16 She considers39 a field and buys it;

from her own income40 she plants a vineyard.

31:17 She begins41 her work vigorously,

and she strengthens42 her arms.

31:18 She knows43 that her merchandise is good,

and her lamp44 does not go out in the night.

31:19 Her hands45 take hold46 of the distaff,

and her hands grasp the spindle.

31:20 She extends47 her hand48 to the poor,

and reaches out her hand to the needy.

31:21 She is not49 afraid of the snow50 for her household,

for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.51

31:22 She makes for herself coverlets;52

her clothing is fine linen and purple.53

31:23 Her husband is well-known54 in the city gate55

when he sits with the elders56 of the land.

31:24 She makes linen garments57 and sells them,

and supplies the merchants58 with sashes.

31:25 She is clothed59 with strength60 and honor,61

and she can laugh62 at the time63 to come.

31:26 She opens her mouth64 with wisdom,

and loving instruction65 is on her tongue.

31:27 She watches over66 the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.67

31:28 Her children rise up68 and call her blessed,

her husband69 also praises her:

31:29 “Many70 daughters71 have done valiantly,72

but you surpass them all!”

31:30 Charm is deceitful73 and beauty is fleeting,74

but a woman who fears the Lord75 will be praised.

31:31 Give76 her credit for what she has accomplished,77

and let her works praise her78 in the city gates.79

Ecclesiastes