The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the pronouncement.
The mandeclares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 I am certainlymoreastupidthananyman,And I do not have the understanding of a man;Ps 49:10; 73:22; Prov 12:13 Nor have I learnedwisdom,Nor do I have the aknowledge of the HolyOne.Prov 9:104 Who has aascended into heaven and descended?Who has gathered the bwind in His fists?Who has cwrapped the waters in 1His garment?Who has destablishedall the ends of the earth?What is His ename or His 2Son’sname?Surely you know!Lit theOr son’sPs 68:18; John 3:13; Eph 4:8Ex 15:10; Ps 135:7Job 26:8; 38:8, 9Ps 24:2; Is 45:18Rev 19:12
5 Everyaword of God is 1pure;He is a bshield to those who takerefuge in Him.Lit refinedPs 12:6; 18:30Ps 3:3; 84:11; Prov 2:76 aDo not add to His wordsOr He will rebuke you, and you will be provedaliar.Deut 4:2; 12:32; Rev 22:18
7 Twothings I have asked of You;Do not refuse me before I die:8 Keepdeception and 1liesfar from me,Give me neitherpovertynorriches;Feed me with the afood that is my portion,Lit words of falsehoodJob 23:12; Matt 6:119 Sothat I will notbeafull and denybYou and say, “Who is the LORD?”And that I will notbecomecimpoverished and steal,And dprofane the name of my God.Deut 8:12; 31:20; Neh 9:25; Hos 13:6Josh 24:27; Job 31:28Prov 6:30Ex 20:7
10 Do not slander a slave to his master,Or he will acurse you and you will be foundguilty.Eccl 7:21
11 There is a 1kindofperson who acurses his fatherAnd does not bless his mother.Or generationEx 21:17; Prov 20:2012 There is a 1kind who is apure in his own eyes,Yet is not washed from his filthiness.Or generationProv 16:2; Is 65:5; Luke 18:11; Titus 1:15, 1613 There is a 1kind—oh howaloftyare his eyes!And his eyelids are raisedinarrogance.Or generationProv 6:17; Is 2:11; 5:1514 There is a 1kindofperson whose ateeth are likeswordsAnd his bjawteethlikeknives,To cdevour the poor from the earthAnd the needy from among mankind.Or generationPs 57:4Job 29:17Ps 14:4; Amos 8:4
15 The leech has twodaughters:“Give” and “Give.”There are threethings that will not besatisfied,Four that will not say, “Enough”:16 1aSheol, the binfertilewomb,Earth that isneversatisfied with water,And fire that neversays, “Enough.”I.e., The netherworldProv 27:20Gen 30:117 The eye that amocks a fatherAnd 1bscorns a mother,The cravens of the valley will pick it out,And the youngdeagles will eat it.Lit despises to obeyGen 9:22Prov 15:20Deut 28:26
18 There are threethings which aretoowonderful for me,Four which I do not understand:19 The way of the aeagle in the sky,The way of a snake on a rock,The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,And the way of a man with a 1virgin.Lit young unmarried womanDeut 28:49; Jer 48:40; 49:2220 This is the way of an aadulterouswoman:She eats and wipes her mouth,And says, “I have donenowrong.”Prov 5:6
21 Underthreethings the earthquakes,And underfour, it cannotendure:22 Under a aslavewhen he becomesking,And a foolwhen he issatisfied with food,Prov 19:10; Eccl 10:723 Under an unloved woman when she getsahusband,And a femaleservantwhen she dispossesses her mistress.
24 Fourthings are small on the earth,But they are exceedinglywise:25 The aants are not a strongpeople,But they prepare their food in the summer;Prov 6:626 The arockhyraxes are not a mightypeople,Yet they make their houses in the rocks;Lev 11:5; Ps 104:1827 The locustshavenoking,Yet all of them gooutinaranks;Joel 2:728 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,Yet it is in kings’palaces.
29 There are threethings which are stately in theirmarch,Even four which are stately when they walk:30 The lion, which is amighty among animalsAnd does not 1bretreat from anything,Lit turn backJudg 14:18; 2 Sam 1:23Mic 5:831 The 1struttingroosteror the malegoat,And a kingwhenhisarmy is with him.Lit girt in the loins
32 If you have beenfoolish in exalting yourself,Or if you have plottedevil,aputyourhand on your mouth.Job 21:5; 40:4; Mic 7:1633 For the 1churning of milkproducesbutter,And pressing the noseproducesblood;So the 2churning of aangerproducesstrife.Lit pressingProv 10:12; 29:22
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the 1oracle.Or burden
The mandeclares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am moreasenselessthananyman,And I do not have the understanding of mankind.Ps 49:10; 73:22; Prov 12:13 Neither have I learnedwisdom,Nor do I know the aknowledge of the HolyOne.Prov 9:104 Who has aascended into heaven and descended?Who has gathered the bwind in His fists?Who has cwrapped the waters in 1His garment?Who has 2destablishedall the ends of the earth?What is His ename? And what is His fSon’sname?Surely you know!Lit theLit raised upPs 68:18; John 3:13; Eph 4:8Ex 15:10; Ps 135:7Job 26:8; 38:8, 9Ps 24:2; Is 45:18Ex 3:13-15; Rev 19:12Ex 4:22-23; Ps 2:7, 12
5 Everyaword of God is 1tested;He is a bshield to those who takerefuge in Him.Or tried, cf. 2 Sam 22:31; Ps 18:30Ps 12:6; 18:30Ps 3:3; 84:11; Prov 2:76 aDo not add to His wordsLest He reprove you, and you be provedaliar.Deut 4:2; 12:32; Rev 22:18
7 Twothings I asked of You,Do not withhold from me before I die:8 Keepworthlessness and every false wordfar from me,Give me neitherpovertynorriches;Feed me with the afood that is my portion,Job 23:12; Matt 6:119 Lest I beafull and denybYou and say, “Who is Yahweh?”Or lest I becimpoverished and steal,And 1dprofane the name of my God.Lit take hold ofDeut 8:12; 31:20; Neh 9:25; Hos 13:6Josh 24:27; Job 31:28Prov 6:30Ex 20:7
10 Do not slander a slave to his master,Lest he acurse you and you be foundguilty.Eccl 7:21
11 There is a generation that acurses its fatherAnd does not bless its mother.Ex 21:17; Prov 20:2012 There is a generation that is aclean in its own eyes,Yet is not washed from its filthiness.Prov 16:2; Is 65:5; Luke 18:11; Titus 1:15, 1613 There is a generation—oh howahaughtyare its eyes!And its eyelids are liftedup.Prov 6:17; Is 2:11; 5:1514 There is a generation whose ateeth are likeswordsAnd its bfangslikeknives,To cdevour the afflicted from the earthAnd the needy from among men.Ps 57:4Job 29:17Ps 14:4; Amos 8:4
15 The leech has twodaughters,“Give,” “Give.”There are threethings that will not besatisfied,Four that will not say, “Enough”:16 aSheol, and the bbarrenwomb,Earth that isneversatisfied with water,And fire that neversays, “Enough.”Prov 27:20Gen 30:117 The eye that amocks a fatherAnd bdespisesobedience to a mother,The cravens of the valley will pick it out,And the youngdeagles will eat it.Gen 9:22Prov 15:20Deut 28:26
18 There are threethings which aretoowonderful for me,Four which I do not understand:19 The way of an aeagle in the sky,The way of a serpent on a rock,The way of a ship in the heart of the sea,And the way of a man with a virgin.Deut 28:49; Jer 48:40; 49:2220 This is the way of an aadulterouswoman:She eats and wipes her mouth,And says, “I have donenowrong.”Prov 5:6
21 Underthreethings the earthquakes,And underfour, it cannotbearup:22 Under a aslavewhen he becomesking,And a wickedfoolwhen he issatisfied with food,Prov 19:10; Eccl 10:723 Under1an unloved woman when she getsahusband,And a servant-girlwhen she supplants her mistress.Lit a hated
24 Fourthings are small on the earth,But they are exceedinglywise:25 The aants are not a strongpeople,But they prepare their food in the summer;Prov 6:626 The 1ashephanim are not a mightypeople,Yet they make their houses in the cliff;Small, shy, furry animals (Hyrax syriacus)Lev 11:5; Ps 104:1827 The locustshavenoking,Yet all of them gooutinarank;Joel 2:728 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,Yet it is in kings’palaces.
29 There are threethings which are stately in theirmarch,Even four which are stately when they walk:30 The lionwhich is amighty among the animalsAnd does not bturnbackbeforeany,Judg 14:18; 2 Sam 1:23Mic 5:831 The 1struttingrooster, the malegoatalso,And a kingwhenhisarmy is with him.Lit girt in the loins
32 If you have beenwickedlyfoolish in lifting yourself up,Or if you have schemedevil, aputyourhand on your mouth.Job 21:5; 40:4; Mic 7:1633 For pressingmilkbringsforthbutter,And pressing the nosebringsforthblood;And pressingaangerbringsforthstrife.Prov 10:12; 29:22
The words of 1Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle:The identity of Agur, author of this chapter, is uncertain.
The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:
2 Surely 1I am more brutish andastupid than any man,And I do not have the understanding of a man for I do not know what I do not know.This may be viewed as either a sarcastic response to an unknown critic, or simply the sincere reflections of a humble man.Ps 49:10; 73:22; Prov 12:13 I have not learned skillful and godly wisdom,Nor do I have aknowledge of the Holy One who is the source of wisdom.Prov 9:104 Who has aascended into heaven and descended?Who has gathered the bwind in His fists?Who has cbound the waters in His garment?Who has destablished all the ends of the earth?What is His ename, and what is His Son’s name?Certainly you know! John 3:13; Rev 19:12Ps 68:18; John 3:13; Eph 4:8Ex 15:10; Ps 135:7Job 26:8; 38:8, 9Ps 24:2; Is 45:18Rev 19:12
5 Every aword of God is tested and refined like silver;He is a bshield to those who trust and take refuge in Him. Ps 18:30; 84:11; 115:9-11Ps 12:6; 18:30Ps 3:3; 84:11; Prov 2:76 aDo not add to His words,Or He will reprove you, and you will be found a liar.Deut 4:2; 12:32; Rev 22:18
7 Two things I have asked of You;Do not deny them to me before I die:8 Keep deception and lies far from me;Give me neither poverty nor riches;Feed me with the afood that is my portion,Job 23:12; Matt 6:119 So that I will not be afull and deny bYou and say, “Who is the LORD?”Or that I will not be cpoor and steal,And so dprofane the name of my God. Deut 8:12, 14, 17; Neh 9:25, 26; Job 31:24; Hos 13:6Deut 8:12; 31:20; Neh 9:25; Hos 13:6Josh 24:27; Job 31:28Prov 6:30Ex 20:7
10 Do not slander or malign a servant before his master stay out of another’s personal life,Or he awill curse you for your interference, and you will be found guilty.Eccl 7:21
11 There is a generation (class of people) that acurses its fatherAnd does not bless its mother.Ex 21:17; Prov 20:2012 There is a generation (class of people) that is apure in its own eyes,Yet is not washed from its filthiness.Prov 16:2; Is 65:5; Luke 18:11; Titus 1:15, 1613 There is a generation (class of people)—oh, how alofty are their eyes!And their eyelids are raised inarrogance.Prov 6:17; Is 2:11; 5:1514 There is a generation (class of people) whose ateeth are like swordsAnd whose bjaw teeth are like knives,To cdevour the afflicted from the earthAnd the needy from among men.Ps 57:4Job 29:17Ps 14:4; Amos 8:4
15 The leech has two daughters,“Give, give!”There are three things that are never satisfied,Four that do not say, “It is enough”:16 1aSheol, and the bbarren womb,Earth that is never satisfied with water,And fire that never says, “It is enough.”Hades, the nether world, the place of the dead.Prov 27:20Gen 30:117 The eye that amocks a fatherAnd bscorns a mother,The cravens of the valley will pick it out,And the young dvultures will devour it. Lev 20:9; Prov 20:20; 23:22Gen 9:22Prov 15:20Deut 28:26
18 There are three things which are too astounding and unexpectedly wonderful for me,Four which I do not understand:19 The way of an aeagle 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.Deut 28:49; Jer 48:40; 49:2220 This is the way of an aadulterous woman:She eats and wipes her mouthAnd says, “I have done no wrong.”Prov 5:6
21 Under three things the earth is disquieted and quakes,And under four it cannot bear up:22 Under a aservant when he reigns,Under a spiritually blind fool when he is filled with food,Prov 19:10; Eccl 10:723 Under an unloved woman when she gets married,And under a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.
24 There are four things that are small on the earth,But they are exceedingly wise:25 The aants are not a strong people,Yet they prepare their food in the summer; Prov 6:6Prov 6:626 The 1ashephanim are not a mighty folk,Yet they make their houses in the rocks; Ps 104:18Small, shy, furry animals, (Hyrax syriacus) found in the peninsula of the Sinai, northern Israel, and in the region around the Dead Sea; KJV coney, orig NASB badgers.Lev 11:5; Ps 104:1827 The locusts have no king,Yet all of them go out in agroups;Joel 2:728 You may grasp the lizard with your hands,Yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 There are three things which are stately in step,Even four which are stately in their stride:30 The lion, which is amighty among beastsAnd bdoes not turn back before any;Judg 14:18; 2 Sam 1:23Mic 5:831 The 1strutting rooster, the male goat also,And the king whenhis army is with him.Lit girt in the loins. The meaning of the Hebrew is unclear. Other translations propose greyhound.
32 If you have foolishly exalted yourself,Or if you have plotted evil,aputyour hand on your mouth. Job 21:5; 40:4Job 21:5; 40:4; Mic 7:1633 Surely the churning of milk produces butter,And wringing the nose produces blood;So the churning of aanger produces strife.Prov 10:12; 29:22
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the 1oracle.Or burden
The mandeclares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am moreastupidthananyman,And I do not have the understanding of a man.Ps 49:10; 73:22; Prov 12:13 Neither have I learnedwisdom,Nor do I have the aknowledge of the HolyOne.Prov 9:104 Who has aascended into heaven and descended?Who has gathered the bwind in His fists?Who has cwrapped the waters in 1His garment?Who has destablishedall the ends of the earth?What is His ename or His son’sname?Surely you know!Lit thePs 68:18; John 3:13; Eph 4:8Ex 15:10; Ps 135:7Job 26:8; 38:8, 9Ps 24:2; Is 45:18Rev 19:12
5 Everyaword of God is tested;He is a bshield to those who takerefuge in Him.Ps 12:6; 18:30Ps 3:3; 84:11; Prov 2:76 aDo not add to His wordsOr He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.Deut 4:2; 12:32; Rev 22:18
7 Twothings I asked of You,Do not refuse me before I die:8 Keepdeception and 1liesfar from me,Give me neitherpovertynorriches;Feed me with the afood that is my portion,Lit words of falsehoodJob 23:12; Matt 6:119 That I not be afull and denybYou and say, “Who is the LORD?”Or that I not be cin want and steal,And dprofane the name of my God.Deut 8:12; 31:20; Neh 9:25; Hos 13:6Josh 24:27; Job 31:28Prov 6:30Ex 20:7
10 Do not slander a slave to his master,Or he will acurse you and you will be foundguilty.Eccl 7:21
11 There is a 1kind of man who acurses his fatherAnd does not bless his mother.Or generationEx 21:17; Prov 20:2012 There is a 1kind who is apure in his own eyes,Yet is not washed from his filthiness.Or generationProv 16:2; Is 65:5; Luke 18:11; Titus 1:15, 1613 There is a 1kind—oh howalofty are his eyes!And his eyelids are raisedinarrogance.Or generationProv 6:17; Is 2:11; 5:1514 There is a 1kind of man whose ateeth are likeswordsAnd his bjawteethlikeknives,To cdevour the afflicted from the earthAnd the needy from among men.Or generationPs 57:4Job 29:17Ps 14:4; Amos 8:4
15 The leech has twodaughters,“Give,” “Give.”There are threethings that will not be satisfied,Four that will not say, “Enough”:16 1aSheol, and the bbarrenwomb,Earth that is neversatisfied with water,And fire that neversays, “Enough.”I.e. The nether worldProv 27:20Gen 30:117 The eye that amocks a fatherAnd 1bscorns a mother,The cravens of the valley will pick it out,And the youngdeagles will eat it.Lit despises to obeyGen 9:22Prov 15:20Deut 28:26
18 There are threethings which are toowonderful for me,Four which I do not understand:19 The way of an aeagle in the sky,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.Deut 28:49; Jer 48:40; 49:2220 This is the way of an aadulterouswoman:She eats and wipes her mouth,And says, “I have donenowrong.”Prov 5:6
21 Underthreethings the earthquakes,And underfour, it cannotbear up:22 Under a aslavewhen he becomesking,And a foolwhen he is satisfied with food,Prov 19:10; Eccl 10:723 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,And a maidservantwhen she supplants her mistress.
24 Fourthings are small on the earth,But they are exceedinglywise:25 The aants are not a strongpeople,But they prepare their food in the summer;Prov 6:626 The 1ashephanim are not mightypeople,Yet they make their houses in the rocks;Small, shy, furry animals (Hyrax syriacus) found in the peninsula of the Sinai, northern Israel, and the region round the Dead Sea; KJV coney, orig NASB badgersLev 11:5; Ps 104:1827 The locustshavenoking,Yet all of them go out in aranks;Joel 2:728 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,Yet it is in kings’palaces.
29 There are threethings which are stately in theirmarch,Even four which are stately when they walk:30 The lionwhich is amighty among beastsAnd does not 1bretreatbeforeany,Lit turn backJudg 14:18; 2 Sam 1:23Mic 5:831 The 1struttingrooster, the malegoatalso,And a kingwhenhisarmy is with him.Lit girt in the loins
32 If you have beenfoolish in exalting yourselfOr if you have plottedevil,aputyourhand on your mouth.Job 21:5; 40:4; Mic 7:1633 For the 1churning of milkproducesbutter,And pressing the nosebringsforthblood;So the 2churning of aangerproducesstrife.Lit pressingProv 10:12; 29:22