The Oracle Of Agur
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the prophecy he spoke 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:
4 Who ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who gathered the wind in his hands? Who bound the waters in a garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell me?
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 (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 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!
A Prayer
7 I require two things from you. Do not deprive me of them before I die.
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
7 Two things I asked of You,Do not refuse me 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
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food necessary for me.
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
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 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,
9 If I am full I could deny you and say, Who is Jehovah? Or if I am poor and steal, I could take God's name in vain.
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 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 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.
Against Slander
Four Kinds Of People
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are like swords, and their jaw teeth like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and 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 (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 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.
Human Bloodsuckers
15 The leach has two daughters. Each cry: Give, Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, yes; even four things never say: It is 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.”There are three things that will not be satisfied,Four that will not say, “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" -
Four Things That Are Never Satisfied
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that does not say: 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.
16 (h)(W)Sheol, and the (X)barren womb,Earth that is never satisfied with water,And fire that never says, “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".
Disrespectful Children - Their Punishment
17 The eye that mocks his father, and rejects obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles 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 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 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.
Four Things Of Intrigue
18 There are three things that are too wonderful for me, yes, four I do not know:
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,Four which I do not understand:
18 Three things are beyond me;four I can’t understand:
18 Three things cause wonder for me; four are beyond my understanding:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon 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 (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 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.
About The Woman Who Commits Adultery
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman. She eats and wipes her mouth, and says: I have done no wickedness.
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 (AD)adulterous woman:She eats and wipes her mouth,And says, “I have done no wrong.”
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."
Four Things That Are Intolerable
21 Under three things the earth is disquieted, and for four it cannot bear:
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
21 Under three things the earth quakes,And under four, it cannot bear up:
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:
23 For a detestable woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.
23 an unloved woman when she finds a husband, and a servant girl who inherits from her mistress.
Four Things That Are Small - Yet Smart And Strong
24 There are four things that are little upon the earth, but they (chakam: teach wisdom) are exceeding wise:
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
24 Four things are small on the earth,But they are exceedingly 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:
Four Things That Move With Dignity
29 There are three things that go well, yes, four go well:
29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
29 There are three things which are stately in their march,Even four which are stately when they walk:
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:
Keep Calm And Quiet
32 If you foolishly exalted yourself, or if you thought evil, lay your hand upon 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 in exalting yourselfOr if you have plotted evil, (AK)put your hand on your 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.
33 Surely the churning of milk brings butter, and the wringing of the nose brings blood, so the forcing of wrath brings 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 (m)churning of milk produces butter,And pressing the nose brings forth blood;So the (n)churning of (AL)anger produces 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.