1The words (sayings) of Agur, son of Jakeh - an inspired utterance. This man spoke to Ithiel and Ucal, “I am weary, God, and worn out.”
2Surely, I am the most ignorant of men, nor have I the knowledge of man;
3I have not learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who has gone up into heaven, or come down? 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?
5Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
6Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and prove you to be a liar.
7Two things have I required of You, LORD; grant them to me before I die:
8Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me; and give me neither poverty nor riches, just give me just enough to meet my needs,
9Lest I be full, and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor, and steal, dishonoring the name of my God.
10Never level an accusation at a servant before his master, or he will curse you (the person being addressed – and not the LORD), and you be found guilty.
11There are those that curse their father, and do not bless their mother.
12Those that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not cleansed from their filthiness.
13Those that - Oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their glances so disdainful.
14Those whose teeth are like swords, and their jaw teeth like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15The leech has two daughters that cry, “Give, give”. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things never say, “It is enough”:
16The grave; the barren womb; land thirsty for water; and the fire, that never says, “It is enough”.
17The eye that mocks his father, and scorns his mother, shall be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I do not understand:
19The way of an eagle in the sky; the way of a snake upon a rock; the way of a ship on the high seas; and the way of a man with young woman.
20This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong”.
21By three things the earth is disturbed, and for four which it cannot bear:
22A servant who becomes king; and a godless fool when he is filled with food;
23An obnoxious woman who finally gets a husband; and a handmaid who displaces to her mistress.
24There are four things on the earth which are little, but they are exceedingly wise:
25Ants, though creatures of little strength, they store their food in the summer;
26Badgers are of little power, but they make their homes in the rocks;
27Locusts have no king (leader), yet they advance by ranks;
28And the lizard, though it can be caught and held in the hands, yet is in kings' palaces.
29There are three things which move in stately manner, yea, four that do so:
30A lion, mighty among beasts, and retreats before nothing;
31A strutting rooster; a he-goat also; and a king secure against uprisings.
32If you have done foolishly in exalting yourself, or if you have plotted evil, lay your hand upon your mouth.
33Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the stirring up wrath produces strife. Proverbs 31 Chapter 31 contains the words of King Lemuel, who relates some of the wisdom his mother taught him, including the virtues and praise of a good wife. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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