1) Proverbs 30, Proverbs 31



Proverbs 30

The Sayings of Agur

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.

The man declares to Ithiel,

to Ithiel and Ukal:

2 (Ps 73:22) Surely I am more brutish than any man,

and have not the understanding of a man.

3 (Pr 9:10) I neither learned wisdom,

nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4 (Jn 3:13; Job 26:8; Ps 2:7) Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended?

Who has gathered the wind in his fists?

Who has bound the waters in a garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is His name, and what is the name of His son,

if you know?

5 (Ps 12:6; 18:30) Every word of God is pure;

He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

6 (Dt 4:2; 12:32 ) Do not add to His words,

lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I have required of you;

do not deny me them before I die:

8 (Mt 6:11; Lk 11:3) Remove vanity and lies far from me-

give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with food convenient for me;

9 (Ex 20:7; Dt 31:20) lest I be full, and deny You,

and say, "Who is the Lord?"

or lest I be poor, and steal,

and take the name of my God in vain.

10 Do not accuse a servant to his master,

lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11 (Pr 20:20; 30:17 ) There is a generation that curses their father,

and does not bless its mother.

12 (Lk 18:11; Pr 16:2) There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,

and yet is not washed from its filthiness.

13 (Pr 6:17; Ps 101:5) There is a generation-oh, how lofty are their eyes!

And their eyelids are lifted up.

14 (Job 29:17; Ps 14:4) 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.

15 (Pr 6:16; 30:21) The leech has two daughters,

crying, "Give, give."

There are three things that are never satisfied,

indeed, four things never say, "It is enough":

16 (Pr 27:20; Hab 2:5) the grave, the barren womb,

the earth that is not filled with water,

and the fire that never says, "It is enough."

17 (Pr 23:22; Dt 21:18-21) The eye that mocks at his father,

and despises to obey his mother,

the ravens of the valley will pick it out,

and the young eagles will eat it.

18 (Job 42:3) There are three things which are too wonderful for me,

indeed, four which I do not know:

19 the way of an eagle in the air,

the way of a serpent on a rock,

the way of a ship in the midst of the sea,

and the way of a man with a maid.

20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman;

she eats and wipes her mouth,

and says, "I have done no wickedness."

21 For three things the earth is disquieted,

and for four which it cannot bear:

22 (Pr 19:10; Ecc 10:7) for a servant when he reigns,

and a fool when he is filled with food,

23 for a hateful woman when she is married,

and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little upon the earth,

but they are exceeding wise:

25 (Pr 6:6-8) The ants are a people not strong,

yet they prepare their food in the summer;

26 (Ps 104:18; Lev 11:5) the badgers are but a feeble folk,

yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27 (Joel 2:25) the locusts have no king,

yet they go forth all of them by bands;

28 the spider takes hold with her hands,

and is in kings' palaces.

29 There are three things which go well,

indeed, four are comely in going:

30 Jdg 14:18 a lion which is strongest among beasts,

and does not turn away for any;

31 a strutting rooster, a male goat also,

and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32 (Job 21:5; 40:4) If you have been foolish in lifting up yourself,

or if you have thought evil,

put your hand on your mouth.

33 (Pr 29:22) Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter,

and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood,

so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.



[1] The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake

unto Ithiel, even unto 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 have the knowledge of the holy.

[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?

[5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their

trust in him.

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

liar.

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

[8] Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with food convenient for me:

[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.

[10] Accuse not a servant unto 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 is not

washed from their filthiness.

[13] There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids

are lifted up.

[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.

[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:

[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 his father, and despiseth to obey his mother,

the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

[18] There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, 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 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] For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot

bear:

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

[23] For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir

to her mistress.

[24] There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are

exceeding wise:

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

summer;

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

rocks;

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

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

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

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

[31] A greyhound; an 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, lay thine 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.



Proverbs 31



The Sayings of King Lemuel's Mother



1 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

2 (Isa 49:15; 1Sa 1:11) What, my son? And what, the son of my womb?

And what, the son of my vows?

3 (Dt 17:17; Ne 13:26) Do not give your strength to women,

nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 (Ecc 10:17; Pr 20:1) It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

nor for princes strong drink;

5 lest they drink and forget the law,

and pervert the justice of any of the afflicted.

6 (1Ti 5:23) Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish,

and wine to those who are of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,

and remember his misery no more.

8 (Ps 82:3-4) Open your mouth for the speechless

in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 (Lev 19:15; Dt 1:16) Open your mouth, judge righteously,

and plead the cause of the poor and needy.



[1] The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

[2] What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

[3] Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth

kings.

[4] It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor

for princes strong drink:

[5] Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of

the afflicted.

[6] Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those

that be of heavy hearts.

[7] Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

[8] Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are

appointed to destruction.

[9] Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and

needy.



Epilogue: The Virtuous Wife



10 (Ru 3:11; Pr 12:4) Who can find a virtuous woman?

For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her,

so that he will have no lack of gain.

12 She will do him good and not evil

all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,

and works willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

she brings her food from afar.

15 (Lk 12:42; Ro 12:11) She also rises while it is yet night,

and gives food to her household,

and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 (1Ki 18:46; 2Ki 4:29) She clothes herself with strength,

and strengthens her arms.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good;

her candle does not go out by night.

19 She lays her hands to the spindle,

and her hands hold the distaff.

20 (Eph 4:28; Job 31:16-20 ) She stretches out her hand to the poor;

yes, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 (Ge 41:42; Pr 7:16) She makes herself coverings of tapestry;

her clothing is silk and purple.

23 (Ru 4:1; Dt 16:18) Her husband is known in the gates,

when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes fine linen and sells it,

and delivers sashes to the merchant.

25 (1Ti 2:10) Strength and honor are her clothing,

and she will rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and in her tongue is the teaching of kindness.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many daughters have done virtuously,

but you excel them all."

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her own works praise her in the gates.



[10] Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

[11] The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall

have no need of spoil.

[12] She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

[13] She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

[14] She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

[15] She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her

household, and a portion to her maidens.

[16] She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she

planteth a vineyard.

[17] She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

[18] She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out

by night.

[19] She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

[20] She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her

hands to the needy.

[21] She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household

are clothed with scarlet.

[22] She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and

purple.

[23] Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of

the land.

[24] She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the

merchant.

[25] Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to

come.

[26] She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of

kindness.

[27] She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread

of idleness.

[28] Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he

praiseth her.

[29] Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

[30] Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the

LORD, she shall be praised.

[31] Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in

the gates.