Proverbs 30

1 A discourse by the faithful collector. ^{a30:1 Or by Jakeh’s son Agur} This is what this valiant man declared to the God with me, to the God with me, who then prevailed: ^{b30:1 Or declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel, and Ucal}ISV — Proverbs 30:1

2 Surely I am beyond the senselessness of any man; I do not perceive things ^{c30:2 The Heb. lacks things} the way human beings do.ISV — Proverbs 30:2

3 I never acquired wisdom, but I know what the Holy One knows.ISV — Proverbs 30:3

4 Who has ascended to heaven, and then descended? Who has collected the wind in his hands? Who has wrapped up waters in a garment? Who has established all the farthest points of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!ISV — Proverbs 30:4

5 Everything God says is pure; he is a shield for those who take refuge in him.ISV — Proverbs 30:5

6 Don’t add to his words, or he will rebuke you, and you will be shown to be a liar.ISV — Proverbs 30:6

7 God, ^{d30:7 The Heb. lacks God} I have asked you for two things— don’t refuse me before I die—ISV — Proverbs 30:7

8 Keep deception and lies far away from me, and give me neither poverty nor wealth. Feed me with food that I need for today, ^{e30:8 Or that is appropriate for me}ISV — Proverbs 30:8

9 so that I don’t become overfed and deny you by saying, “Who is the LORD?” or so that I don’t become poor and steal, and then misuse the name of my God.ISV — Proverbs 30:9

10 Don’t lie about a servant to his master, or that servant ^{f30:10 Lit. or he} will curse you and you will pay for it.ISV — Proverbs 30:10

11 Some people ^{g30:11 Lit. A generation} curse their fathers and won’t bless their mothers.ISV — Proverbs 30:11

12 Some people ^{h30:12 Lit. A generation} view themselves as pure, but haven’t been cleansed from their own filth.ISV — Proverbs 30:12

13 Some people ^{i30:13 Lit. A generation} —what an arrogant look they have!— raise their eyebrows haughtily.ISV — Proverbs 30:13

14 Some people ^{j30:14 Lit. A generation} have swords for teeth and knives for fangs to devour the afflicted from the earth and the needy from among mankind.ISV — Proverbs 30:14

15 The leech has two daughters: “Give” and “Give”. Three things will never be satisfied; four will never say “Enough”—ISV — Proverbs 30:15

16 The afterlife, ^{k30:16 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the realm of the dead} the barren womb, earth that still demands water, and fire—they never say, “Enough”.ISV — Proverbs 30:16

17 The eye that mocks a father and looks with a disobedient attitude at ^{l30:17 Lit. and despises obedience to} a mother— the valley ravens will pluck it out; and vultures will eat it.ISV — Proverbs 30:17

18 Three things cause wonder for me; four are beyond my understanding:ISV — Proverbs 30:18

19 The way an eagle flies in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.ISV — Proverbs 30:19

20 This is what an immoral woman is like: she eats, wipes her mouth, then says “I’ve done nothing wrong.”ISV — Proverbs 30:20

21 Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot remain steady:ISV — Proverbs 30:21

22 Under a slave when he becomes a king, a fool when he is overfed,ISV — Proverbs 30:22

23 an unloved woman when she finds a husband, and a servant girl who inherits from her mistress.ISV — Proverbs 30:23

24 Four things on earth are small, but they are very, very wise:ISV — Proverbs 30:24

25 Ants aren’t a strong species, ^{m30:25 Lit. people} yet they prepare their food in the summer.ISV — Proverbs 30:25

26 The rock badgers aren’t a strong species ^{n30:26 Lit. people} either, yet they build their dens in the rocks.ISV — Proverbs 30:26

27 Locusts have no king, but they all swarm in ranks.ISV — Proverbs 30:27

28 Spiders can be caught by the hand, yet they’re found in kings’ palaces.ISV — Proverbs 30:28

29 Three things are stately in procession, four which are stately in their gait:ISV — Proverbs 30:29

30 The lion, mighty among the beasts, retreats before nothing.ISV — Proverbs 30:30

31 The strutting rooster, as well as the goat, and a king with his army.ISV — Proverbs 30:31

32 If you’ve foolishly exalted yourself or if you’ve plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.ISV — Proverbs 30:32

33 Just as whipping milk produces butter, and twisting the nose causes bleeding, so also stirring up anger produces contention.ISV — Proverbs 30:33