The Proverbs

The words of Agur son of Jakeh. An oracle. Thus says the man: I am weary, O God, I am weary, O God. How can I prevail?

Surely I am too stupid to be human; I do not have human understanding.

I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the holy ones.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is the person's name? And what is the name of the person's child? Surely you know!

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

Do not add to his words, or else he will rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.

Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need,

or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.

Do not slander a servant to a master, or the servant will curse you, and you will be held guilty.

There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

There are those who are pure in their own eyes yet are not cleansed of their filthiness.

There are those--how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!

There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mortals.

The leech has two daughters; "Give, give," they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough":

Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, "Enough."

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:

the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a girl.

This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong."