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 the son of Jakeh; the oracle.

The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:

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

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.

3 ¶ And I have not learned wisdom,
Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.

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 hath ascended up into heaven, and descended?
Who hath gathered the wind in his fists?
Who hath bound the waters in his garment?
Who hath established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou knowest?

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 tried:
He is a shield unto them that trust in him.

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

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:

7 ¶ Two things have I asked 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:

8 ¶ Remove far from me vanity and lies:
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is needful 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.

9 ¶ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord?
Or lest I be poor, and steal,
And use profanely the name of my God.

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

10 ¶ Slander not a servant unto his master,
Lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

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

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.

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

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

13 ¶ There is a generation, Oh 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.

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:

15 ¶ The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.
There are three things that are never satisfied,
Yea, four that say not, 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 ¶ The grave; and the barren womb;
The earth that is not satisfied with water;
And the fire that saith not, 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.

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:

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.

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.

20 ¶ So 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:

21 ¶ For three things the earth doth tremble,
And for four, which it cannot bear:

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

22 ¶ For a servant when he is king;
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.

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:

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;

25 ¶ The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they provide their meat in the summer;

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

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;

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.

28 ¶ The lizard taketh hold with her hands,
Yet is she in kings’ palaces.

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

29 ¶ There be three things which are stately in their march,
Yea, four which are stately in going:

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

30 ¶ The lion, which is mightiest 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.

31 ¶ The greyhound; the he-goat also;
And the 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.

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.

33 ¶ For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter,
And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood:
So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.