1 ¶ The words of Agur the son of Jakeh: the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and lack the understanding of a man.

3 I have not gained wisdom, nor do I have a knowledge of the holy one.

4 Who has ascended up into heaven, and come down? who has gathered the wind in his hands? who has bound the waters in his garment? who has established all the boundaries of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you can tell?

5 Every word of God is true: he is a shield to those who put their trust in him.

6 Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you are found to be a liar.

7 ¶ I have asked two things of you; do not keep them from me before I die:

8 Remove falsehood and lying far from me: do not give me either poverty or riches; feed me with the food that I need:

9 Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.

10 ¶ Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11 There is a generation who curse their father, and do not bless their mother.

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

13 There is a generation, who have proud looks, and a haughty appearance.

14 There is a generation, whose teeth are like swords, and whose jaws are like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

15 ¶ The leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four that never say, It is enough:

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the land that is in need of water; and the fire that does not say, It is enough.

17 The eye that mocks at his father, and despises obedience to his mother, will be picked out by the ravens of the valley, and the young vultures will eat it.

18 ¶ There are three things that are too wonderful for me, yea, four that I cannot understand:

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 This is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have not done anything wrong.

21 The earth trembles because of three things, and cannot bear up under four:

22 A slave when he rules; and a fool when he is filled with food;

23 An odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.

24 ¶ There are four things that are small on the earth, but are very wise:

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

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

27 The locusts have no king, yet they all go out in ranks;

28 The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

29 ¶ There are three things that walk well, yea, four are stately in their stride:

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

31 A war horse; a male goat; and a king, at the head of his army.

32 If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself, or if you have thought evil, place your hand on your mouth.

33 Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so stirring up anger produces a fight.