The Words of Agur

1These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.

2For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.

3God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.

4Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?

5For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.

6Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar.

7Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die.

8Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth or poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:

9lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear vainly by the name of God.

10Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed.

11A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.

12A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.

13A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.

14A wicked generation have swords for teeth and jaw-teeth as knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.

15The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.

16The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.

17The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.

18Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:

19the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.

20Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.

21By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear:

22if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;

23or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.

24And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:

25the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer;

26the rabbits also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.

27The locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command.

28And the eft, which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.

29And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.

30A lion's whelp, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast;

31and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.

32If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced.

33Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing one's nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.