New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

1The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God.

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense.

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

3I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.

3Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!

4Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!

5Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

5Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

6Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

7O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die.

7Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:

8First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.

8Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,

9For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

9That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

10Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.

10Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

11Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother.

11There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.

12They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed.

12There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

13They look proudly around, casting disdainful glances.

13There is a kind-- oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

14They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.

14There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.

15The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied— no, four that never say, “Enough!”:

15The leech has two daughters, "Give," "Give." There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, "Enough":

16the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.

16Sheol, and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, "Enough."

17The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.

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

18There are three things that amaze me— no, four things that I don’t understand:

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

19how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.

19The way of an eagle in the sky, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.

20An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”

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

21There are three things that make the earth tremble— no, four it cannot endure:

21Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:

22a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers,

22Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

23a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

23Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

24There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:

24Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

25Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer.

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

26Hyraxes —they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks.

26The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation.

27The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;

28Lizards—they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces.

28The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.

29There are three things that walk with stately stride— no, four that strut about:

29There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

30the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,

30The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,

31the strutting rooster, the male goat, a king as he leads his army.

31The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king when his army is with him.

32If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame.

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

33As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.

33For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org