| 1 | The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ith'i-el, to Ith'i-el and Ucal: |
| 2 | Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. |
| 3 | I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. |
| 4 | Who 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! |
| 5 | Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. |
| 6 | Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar. |
| 7 | Two things I ask of thee; deny them not to me before I die: |
| 8 | Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, |
| 9 | lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God. |
| 10 | Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. |
| 11 | There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. |
| 12 | There are those who are pure in their own eyes but are not cleansed of their filth. |
| 13 | There are those -- how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! |
| 14 | There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among men. |
| 15 | The leech has two daughters; "Give, give," they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough": |
| 16 | Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire which never says, "Enough." |
| 17 | The 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. |
| 18 | Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: |
| 19 | the 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 maiden. |
| 20 | This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong." |
| 21 | Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: |
| 22 | a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; |
| 23 | an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress. |
| 24 | Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: |
| 25 | the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; |
| 26 | the badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the rocks; |
| 27 | the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; |
| 28 | the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. |
| 29 | Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: |
| 30 | the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; |
| 31 | the strutting cock, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people. |
| 32 | If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. |
| 33 | For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. |
| 1 | The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him: |
| 2 | What, my son? What, son of my womb? What, son of my vows? |
| 3 | Give not your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. |
| 4 | It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink; |
| 5 | lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. |
| 6 | Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; |
| 7 | let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more. |
| 8 | Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all who are left desolate. |
| 9 | Open your mouth, judge righteously, maintain the rights of the poor and needy. |
| 10 | A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. |
| 11 | The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. |
| 12 | She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. |
| 13 | She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. |
| 14 | She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar. |
| 15 | She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens. |
| 16 | She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. |
| 17 | She girds her loins with strength and makes her arms strong. |
| 18 | She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. |
| 19 | She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. |
| 20 | She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. |
| 21 | She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. |
| 22 | She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. |
| 23 | Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. |
| 24 | She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers girdles to the merchant. |
| 25 | Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. |
| 26 | She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. |
| 27 | She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. |
| 28 | Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: |
| 29 | "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." |
| 30 | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. |
| 31 | Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. |
