New King James Version

King James Bible

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man.

2Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

3I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.

3I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?

4Who hath ascended up 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?

5Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

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

7Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):

7Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

8Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me;

8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

9Lest 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.

10Do not malign a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.

11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

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

13There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.

13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.

14There 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.

15The leech has two daughters— Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”:

15The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”

16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand:

18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin.

19The 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.

20This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wickedness.”

20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up:

21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

22For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,

22For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

23A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

25The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

26The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;

26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks;

27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.

28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29There are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk:

29There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from any;

30A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

31A greyhound, A male goat also, And a king whose troops are with him.

31A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.

32If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

33For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

33Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.