The Oracle Of Agur

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the (a)oracle.The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

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

1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.(a)(A)The man’s oration to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:(b)

1 A discourse by the faithful collector. This is what this valiant man declared to the God with me, to the God with me, who then prevailed:

1 The words of (a)Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle:The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

2 Surely I am more (A)stupid than any man,And I do not have the understanding of a man.

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

2 I am more stupid than any other man,(c)and I lack man’s ability to understand.(B)

2 Surely I am beyond the senselessness of any man; I do not perceive things the way human beings do.

2 Surely (b)I am more brutish and stupid than any man,And I do not have the understanding of a man [for I do not know what I do not know].

3 Neither have I learned wisdom,Nor do I have the (B)knowledge of the Holy One.

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

3 I have not gained wisdom,and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.(C)

3 I never acquired wisdom, but I know what the Holy One knows.

3 I have not learned [skillful and godly] wisdom,Nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One [who is the source of wisdom].

4 Who has (C)ascended into heaven and descended?Who has gathered the (D)wind in His fists?Who has (E)wrapped the waters in (b)His garment?Who has (F)established all the ends of the earth?What is His (G)name or His son’s name?Surely you know!

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? 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?

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?(D)Who has gathered the wind in His hands?Who has bound up the waters in a cloak?(E)Who has established all the ends of the earth?(F)What is His name,and what is the name of His Son—if you know?(G)

4 Who has ascended to heaven, and then descended? Who has collected the wind in his hands? Who has wrapped up waters in a garment? Who has established all the farthest points of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended?Who has gathered the wind in His fists?Who has bound the waters in His garment?Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is His name, and what is His Son’s name?Certainly you know!(A)

5 Every (H)word of God is tested;He is a (I)shield to those who take refuge in Him.

5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

5 Every word of God is pure;(d)(H)He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.(I)

5 Everything God says is pure; he is a shield for those who take refuge in him.

5 Every word of God is tested and refined [like silver];He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.(B)

6 (J)Do not add to His wordsOr He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

6 Don’t add to His words,(J)or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.(K)

6 Don't add to his words, or he will rebuke you, and you will be shown to be a liar.

6 Do not add to His words,Or He will reprove you, and you will be found a liar.

A Prayer

7 Two things I asked of You,Do not refuse me before I die:

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

7 Two things I ask of You;don’t deny them to me before I die:

7 God, I have asked you for two things don't refuse me before I die

7 Two things I have asked of You;Do not deny them to me before I die:

8 Keep deception and (c)lies far from me,Give me neither poverty nor riches;Feed me with the (K)food that is my portion,

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

8 Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.Give me neither poverty nor wealth;feed me with the food I need.(L)

8 Keep deception and lies far away from me, and give me neither poverty nor wealth. Feed me with food that I need for today,

8 Keep deception and lies far from me;Give me neither poverty nor riches;Feed me with the food that is my portion,

9 That I not be (L)full and deny (M)You and say, “Who is the Lord?”Or that I not be (N)in want and steal,And (O)profane the name of my God.

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

9 Otherwise, I might have too much(M)and deny You,(N) saying, “Who is the Lord?”(O)or I might have nothing and steal,(P)profaning(e) the name of my God.(Q)

9 so that I don't become overfed and deny you by saying, "Who is the LORD?" or so that I don't become poor and steal, and then misuse the name of my God.

9 So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”Or that I will not be poor and steal,And so profane the name of my God.(C)

Against Slander

10 Do not slander a slave to his master,Or he will (P)curse you and you will be found guilty.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

10 Don’t slander a servant to his masteror he will curse you,(R) and you will become guilty.

10 Don't lie about a servant to his master, or that servant will curse you and you will pay for it.

10 Do not slander or malign a servant before his master [stay out of another’s personal life],Or he will curse you [for your interference], and you will be found guilty.

Four Kinds Of People

11 There is a (d)kind of man who (Q)curses his fatherAnd does not bless his mother.

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

11 There is a generation that curses its fatherand does not bless its mother.(S)

11 Some people curse their fathers and won't bless their mothers.

11 There is a generation (class of people) that curses its fatherAnd does not bless its mother.

12 There is a (e)kind who is (R)pure in his own eyes,Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

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

12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,(T)yet is not washed from its filth.

12 Some people view themselves as pure, but haven't been cleansed from their own filth.

12 There is a generation (class of people) that is pure in its own eyes,Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

13 There is a (f)kind—oh how (S)lofty are his eyes!And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

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

13 There is a generation—how haughty its eyesand pretentious its looks.(f)

13 Some people what an arrogant look they have! raise their eyebrows haughtily.

13 There is a generation (class of people)—oh, how lofty are their eyes!And their eyelids are raised in arrogance.

14 There is a (g)kind of man whose (T)teeth are like swordsAnd his (U)jaw teeth like knives,To (V)devour the afflicted from the earthAnd the needy from among men.

14 There 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.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are swords,(U)whose fangs are knives,(V)devouring the oppressed from the land(W)and the needy from among mankind.

14 Some people have swords for teeth and knives for fangs to devour the afflicted from the earth and the needy from among mankind.

14 There is a generation (class of people) whose teeth are like swordsAnd whose jaw teeth are like knives,To devour the afflicted from the earthAnd the needy from among men.

Human Bloodsuckers

15 The leech has two daughters,“Give,” “Give.”There are three things that will not be satisfied,Four that will not say, “Enough”:

15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

15 The leech has two daughters: “Give, Give!”Three things(X) are never satisfied;four never say, “Enough!”:

15 The leech has two daughters: "Give" and "Give". Three things will never be satisfied; four will never say "Enough" -

15 The leech has two daughters,“Give, give!”There are three things that are never satisfied,Four that do not say, “It is enough”:

Four Things That Are Never Satisfied

16 (h)(W)Sheol, and the (X)barren womb,Earth that is never satisfied with water,And fire that never says, “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.

16 Sheol;(Y) a childless womb;(Z)earth, which is never satisfied with water;and fire, which never says, “Enough!”

16 The afterlife, the barren womb, earth that still demands water, and fire they never say, "Enough".

16 (c)Sheol, and the barren womb,Earth that is never satisfied with water,And fire that never says, “It is enough.”

Disrespectful Children - Their Punishment

17 The eye that (Y)mocks a fatherAnd (i)(Z)scorns a mother,The (AA)ravens of the valley will pick it out,And the young (AB)eagles will eat it.

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

17 As for the eye that ridicules a father(AA)and despises obedience to a mother,may ravens of the valley pluck it outand young vultures eat it.(AB)

17 The eye that mocks a father and looks with a disobedient attitude at a mother the valley ravens will pluck it out; and vultures will eat it.

17 The eye that mocks a fatherAnd scorns a mother,The ravens of the valley will pick it out,And the young vultures will devour it.(D)

Four Things Of Intrigue

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,Four which I do not understand:

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

18 Three things are beyond me;four I can’t understand:

18 Three things cause wonder for me; four are beyond my understanding:

18 There are three things which are too astounding and unexpectedly wonderful for me,Four which I do not understand:

19 The way of an (AC)eagle in the sky,The way of a serpent on a rock,The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,And the way of a man with a maid.

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

19 the way of an eagle in the sky,the way of a snake on a rock,the way of a ship at sea,and the way of a man with a young woman.

19 The way an eagle flies 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 young woman.

19 The way of an eagle in the air,The way of a serpent on a rock,The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,And the way of a man with a maid.

About The Woman Who Commits Adultery

20 This is the way of an (AD)adulterous woman:She eats and wipes her mouth,And says, “I have done no wrong.”

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

20 This is the way of an adulteress:she eats and wipes her mouthand says, “I’ve done nothing wrong.”(AC)

20 This is what an immoral woman is like: she eats, wipes her mouth, then says "I've done nothing wrong."

20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:She eats and wipes her mouthAnd says, “I have done no wrong.”

Four Things That Are Intolerable

21 Under three things the earth quakes,And under four, it cannot bear up:

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

21 The earth trembles under three things;it cannot bear up under four:

21 Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot remain steady:

21 Under three things the earth is disquieted and quakes,And under four it cannot bear up:

22 Under a (AE)slave when he becomes king,And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

22 a servant when he becomes king,(AD)a fool when he is stuffed with food,

22 Under a slave when he becomes a king, a fool when he is overfed,

22 Under a servant when he reigns,Under a [spiritually blind] fool when he is filled with food,

23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

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

23 an unloved woman when she marries,(AE)and a servant girl when she ousts her queen.

23 an unloved woman when she finds a husband, and a servant girl who inherits from her mistress.

23 Under an unloved woman when she gets married,And under a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

Four Things That Are Small - Yet Smart And Strong

24 Four things are small on the earth,But they are exceedingly wise:

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

24 Four things on earth are small,yet they are extremely wise:

24 Four things on earth are small, but they are very, very wise:

24 There are four things that are small on the earth,But they are exceedingly wise:

25 The (AF)ants are not a strong people,But they prepare their food in the summer;

25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

25 the ants are not a strong people,yet they store up their food in the summer;(AF)

25 Ants aren't a strong species, yet they prepare their food in the summer.

25 The ants are not a strong people,Yet they prepare their food in the summer;(E)

26 The (j)(AG)shephanim are not mighty people,Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

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

26 hyraxes are not a mighty people,yet they make their homes in the cliffs;(AG)

26 The rock badgers aren't a strong species either, yet they build their dens in the rocks.

26 The (d)shephanim are not a mighty folk,Yet they make their houses in the rocks;(F)

27 The locusts have no king,Yet all of them go out in (AH)ranks;

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

27 locusts have no king,yet all of them march in ranks;(AH)

27 Locusts have no king, but they all swarm in ranks.

27 The locusts have no king,Yet all of them go out in groups;

28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

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

28 a lizard(g) can be caught in your hands,yet it lives in kings’ palaces.

28 Spiders can be caught by the hand, yet they're found in kings' palaces.

28 You may grasp the lizard with your hands,Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

Four Things That Move With Dignity

29 There are three things which are stately in their march,Even four which are stately when they walk:

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

29 Three things are stately in their stride,even four are stately in their walk:

29 Three things are stately in procession, four which are stately in their gait:

29 There are three things which are stately in step,Even four which are stately in their stride:

30 The lion which is (AI)mighty among beastsAnd does not (k)(AJ)retreat before any,

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

30 a lion, which is mightiest among beastsand doesn’t retreat before anything,

30 The lion, mighty among the beasts, retreats before nothing.

30 The lion, which is mighty among beastsAnd does not turn back before any;

31 The (l)strutting rooster, the male goat also,And a king when his army is with him.

31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

31 a strutting rooster,(h) a goat,and a king at the head of his army.(i)

31 The strutting rooster, as well as the goat, and a king with his army.

31 The (e)strutting rooster, the male goat also,And the king when his army is with him.

Keep Calm And Quiet

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourselfOr if you have plotted evil, (AK)put your hand on your mouth.

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

32 If you have been foolish by exalting yourselfor if you’ve been scheming,put your hand over your mouth.(AI)

32 If you've foolishly exalted yourself or if you've plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.

32 If you have foolishly exalted yourself,Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.(G)

33 For the (m)churning of milk produces butter,And pressing the nose brings forth blood;So the (n)churning of (AL)anger produces strife.

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.

33 For the churning of milk produces butter,and twisting a nose draws blood,and stirring up anger produces strife.(AJ)

33 Just as whipping milk produces butter, and twisting the nose causes bleeding, so also stirring up anger produces contention.

33 Surely the churning of milk produces butter,And wringing the nose produces blood;So the churning of anger produces strife.

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