Before CHRIST, 700.

1   The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,

2   Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

3   I neither learned wisdom, nor ^note have the knowledge of the holy.

4    ^noteWho hath ascended into heaven, or descended? ^note who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

5    ^noteEvery word of God is ^note pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him.

6    ^noteAdd thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7   Two things have I required of thee; ^note deny them not to me before I die:

8   Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; ^note feed me with food ^note convenient for me:

9    ^noteLest I be full, and ^note deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10    ^noteAccuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11   There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12   There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their filthiness.

13   There is a generation, O how ^note lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14    ^noteThere is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw-teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

15   The horse-leech hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things say not, ^note It is enough:

16   The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17   The eye that mocketh at its father, and despiseth to obey its mother, the ravens of ^note the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18   There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not:

19   The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the ^note midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

20   Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21   ¶2; For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

22    ^noteFor a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food.

23   For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24   There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are ^note very wise:

25    ^noteThe ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;

26   The conies are but a feeble people, yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27   The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them ^note by bands;

28   The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king's palaces.

29   There are three things which go well, yes, four are comely in going:

30   A lion, which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

31   A ^{note note} greyhound; a he-goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32   If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, ^note lay thy hand upon thy mouth.

33   Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

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