The Words of Agur 1 DBY The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the prophecy uttered by the man unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal: BSB BSB: These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 DBY Truly I am more stupid than any one; and I have not a man's intelligence. BSB BSB: Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
3 DBY I have neither learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy. BSB BSB: I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
4 DBY Who hath ascended up into the heavens, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a mantle? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest? BSB BSB: Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!
5 DBY Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. BSB BSB: Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 DBY Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. BSB BSB: Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 DBY Two things do I ask of thee; deny me them not before I die: BSB BSB: Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die:
8 DBY Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread of my daily need: BSB BSB: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.
9 DBY lest I be full and deny thee , and say, Who is Jehovah? or lest I be poor and steal, and outrage the name of my God. BSB BSB: Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
10 DBY Speak not too much about a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty. BSB BSB: Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
11 DBY There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother; BSB BSB: There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 DBY there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness; BSB BSB: There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
13 DBY there is a generation, — how lofty are their eyes, how their eyelids are lifted up! BSB BSB: There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
14 DBY — a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jaw-teeth knives, to devour the afflicted from off the earth, and the needy from among men. BSB BSB: there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.
15 DBY The leech hath two daughters: Give, give. There are three things never satisfied; four which say not, It is enough: BSB BSB: The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
16 DBY — Sheol, and the barren womb; the earth which is not filled with water, and the fire which saith not, It is enough. BSB BSB: Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’
17 DBY The eye that mocketh at a father, and despiseth to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. BSB BSB: As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
18 DBY There are three things too wonderful for me, and four that I know not: BSB BSB: There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
19 DBY The way of an eagle in the heavens, 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. BSB BSB: 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 maiden.
20 DBY Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. BSB BSB: This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 DBY Under three things the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up: BSB BSB: Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 DBY Under a servant when he reigneth, and a churl when he is filled with meat; BSB BSB: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
23 DBY under an odious woman when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress. BSB BSB: an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
24 DBY There are four things little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise: BSB BSB: Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:
25 DBY The ants, a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; BSB BSB: The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 DBY the rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their house in the cliff; BSB BSB: the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
27 DBY the locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands; BSB BSB: the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;
28 DBY thou takest hold of the lizard with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces. BSB BSB: and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
29 DBY There are three things which have a stately step, and four are comely in going: BSB BSB: There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
30 DBY The lion, mighty among beasts, which turneth not away for any; BSB BSB: a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
31 DBY a horse girt in the loins; or the he-goat; and a king, against whom none can rise up. BSB BSB: a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.
32 DBY If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay the hand upon thy mouth. BSB BSB: If you have foolishly exalted yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33 DBY For the pressing of milk bringeth forth butter, and the pressing of the nose bringeth forth blood; and the pressing of anger bringeth forth strife. BSB BSB: For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.