Proverbs 30

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

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1The words of Agur, son of Jakeh the Massaite: The pronouncement of mortal man: "I am not God; I am not God, that I should prevail.

2Why, I am the most stupid of men, and have not even human intelligence;

3Neither have I learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy One.

4Who has gone up to heaven and come down again-- who has cupped the wind in his hands? Who has bound up the waters in a cloak-- who has marked out all the ends of the earth? What is his name, what is his son's name, if you know it?"

5Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be exposed as a deceiver.

7Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die:

8Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; (provide me only with the food I need;)

9Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the LORD?" Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.

10Slander not a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you have to pay the penalty.

11There is a group of people that curses its father, and blesses not its mother.

12There is a group that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not purged of its filth.

13There is a group-- how haughty their eyes! how overbearing their glance!

14There is a group whose incisors are swords, whose teeth are knives, Devouring the needy from the earth, and the poor from among men.

15The two daughters of the leech are, "Give, Give." Three things are never satisfied, four never say, "Enough!"

16The nether world, and the barren womb; the earth, that is never saturated with water, and fire, that never says, "Enough!"

17The eye that mocks a father, or scorns an aged mother, Will be plucked out by the ravens in the valley; the young eagles will devour it.

18Three things are too wonderful for me, yes, four I cannot understand:

19The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, The way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.

20Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong."

21Under three things the earth trembles, yes, under four it cannot bear up:

22Under a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is glutted with food;

23Under an odious woman when she is wed, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

24Four things are among the smallest on the earth, and yet are exceedingly wise:

25Ants-- a species not strong, yet they store up their food in the summer;

26Rock-badgers-- a species not mighty, yet they make their home in the crags;

27Locusts-- they have no king, yet they migrate all in array;

28Lizards-- you can catch them with your hands, yet they find their way into king's palaces.

29Three things are stately in their stride, yes, four are stately in their carriage:

30The lion, mightiest of beasts, who retreats before nothing;

31The strutting cock, and the he-goat, and the king at the head of his people.

32If you have foolishly been proud or presumptuous-- put your hand on your mouth;

33For the stirring of milk brings forth curds, and the stirring of anger brings forth blood.

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