Proverbs 30:1-16 ▼

1 Words of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man: -- I have wearied myself for God, I have wearied myself for God, and am consumed.

2 For I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man.

3 Nor have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know.

4 Who went up to heaven, and cometh down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound waters in a garment? Who established all ends of the earth? What is His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest!

5 Every saying of God is tried, A shield He is to those trusting in Him.

6 Add not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false.

7 Two things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die.

8 Vanity and a lying word put far from me, Poverty or wealth give not to me, Cause me to eat the bread of my portion,

9 Lest I become satiated, and have denied, And have said, 'Who is Jehovah?' And lest I be poor, and have stolen, And have laid hold of the name of my God.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 A generation is, that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless.

12 A generation -- pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed.

13 A generation -- how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up.

14 A generation -- swords are their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from among men.

15 To the leech are two daughters, 'Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said 'Sufficiency;'

16 Sheol, and a restrained womb, Earth -- it is not satisfied with water, And fire -- it hath not said, 'Sufficiency,'