Agur's Confession
30 1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh — the oracle. The man declares: I am weary, O my Father; I am weary, O my Father, and worn out. 2 Surely I am too brutish to be a man; I do not have the understanding of a man. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped 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! a a v4 Agur asks who has done these things and what his son's name is. Jesus answered the riddle: "No one has ascended into heaven except the one who came down from heaven — the Son of Man" (John 3:13). The Father has a Son. 5 Every word of our Father proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. 7 Two things I ask of you; do not withhold them from me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me only the bread that is my portion, 9 for if I am full, I may deny you and say, "Who is our Father?" or if I am poor, I may steal and profane the name of my God. 10 Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you will be found guilty. 11 There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother. 12 There is a generation clean in its own eyes yet not washed of its filth. 13 There is a generation — how proud its eyes, how scornful its glances! 14 There is a generation whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind. 15 The leech has two daughters: "Give" and "Give." Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough 16 The grave, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, "Enough. 17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother — the ravens of the valley will pluck it out, and the young vultures will eat it. 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 in the heart of the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman. 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 servant when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; 23 an unloved woman when she finally marries, and a servant girl when she displaces her mistress. 24 Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise: 25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they store up their food in the summer; 26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; 27 the locusts have no king, yet all of them advance in ranks; 28 the lizard you can catch in your hands, yet it is found in kings' palaces. 29 Three things are stately in their stride; four are stately in their walk: 30 the lion, mightiest among beasts, which turns back before nothing; 31 the strutting rooster, the male goat, and a king whose army is with him. 32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have schemed evil, put your hand over your mouth. 33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.