[1] The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,
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[2] Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
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[3] I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
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[4] Who has ascended up 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 can tell?
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[5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him.
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[6] Add you not to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
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[7] Two things have I required of you; deny me them not before I die:
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[8] Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
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[9] Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
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[10] Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.
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[11] There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
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[12] There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
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[13] There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
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[14] There 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.
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[15] The horse leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things say not, It is enough:
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[16] The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that says not, It is enough.
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[17] The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
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[18] There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not:
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[19] The way of an eagle in the air; 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.
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[20] Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wickedness.
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[21] For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
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[22] For a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
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[23] For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
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[24] There be four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
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[25] The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
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[26] The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
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[27] The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
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[28] The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
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[29] There be three things which go well, yes, four are comely in going:
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[30] A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turns not away for any;
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[31] A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
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[32] If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand on your mouth.
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[33] Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.
