| English Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. | 1The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. |
| 2Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. | 2Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. |
| 3I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. | 3I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. |
| 4Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up 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? Surely you know! | 4Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up 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? Surely you know! |
| 5Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. | 5Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. |
| 6Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. | 6Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. |
| 7Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: | 7Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: |
| 8Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, | 8Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, |
| 9lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. | 9lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. |
| 10Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. | 10Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. |
| 11There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. | 11There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. |
| 12There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. | 12There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. |
| 13There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! | 13There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! |
| 14There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. | 14There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. |
| 15The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: | 15The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: |
| 16Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.” | 16Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.” |
| 17The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. | 17The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. |
| 18Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: | 18Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: |
| 19the way of an eagle 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 virgin. | 19the way of an eagle 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 virgin. |
| 20This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.” | 20This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.” |
| 21Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: | 21Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: |
| 22a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; | 22a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; |
| 23an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress. | 23an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress. |
| 24Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: | 24Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: |
| 25the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; | 25the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; |
| 26the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; | 26the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; |
| 27the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; | 27the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; |
| 28the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces. | 28the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces. |
| 29Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: | 29Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: |
| 30the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; | 30the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; |
| 31the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him. | 31the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him. |
| 32If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. | 32If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. |
| 33For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. | 33For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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