The Words of Agur 1 UEB The words of Agur son of Jakeh—the utterance: This man declared to Ithiel, to 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 UEB Surely I am more like an animal than any human and I do not have the understanding of a human being. BSB BSB: Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
3 UEB I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One. BSB BSB: I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
4 UEB Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has gathered up the waters in a 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! 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 UEB Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. BSB BSB: Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 UEB Do not add to his words, or he will discipline you, and you will be proved to be a liar. BSB BSB: Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 UEB Two things I ask of you, do not withhold them from me before I die: BSB BSB: Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die:
8 UEB Put vanity and lies far away from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches, just give me the food I 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 UEB For if I have too much, I might deny you and say, "Who is Yahweh?" Or if I become poor, I might steal and profane 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 UEB Do not slander a slave before his master, or he will curse you and you will 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 UEB There is a generation that curses their father and does not bless their mother. BSB BSB: There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 UEB There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, and yet they are not washed of their filth. BSB BSB: There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
13 UEB There is a generation whose eyes are raised up, and how high are their eyelids lifted up! BSB BSB: There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
14 UEB There is a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jawbones are like knives, so they may devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity. 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 UEB The leech has two daughters: "Give and give" they cry. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, "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 UEB Sheol; the barren womb; land that is never satisfied with water; and the fire that never says, "Enough!" BSB BSB: Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’
17 UEB The eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, his eyes will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, and he will be eaten by the vultures. 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 UEB There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand: BSB BSB: There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
19 UEB the way of an eagle in the sky; the way of a snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a young woman. 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 UEB This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and she wipes her mouth and says, "I have done nothing wrong." BSB BSB: This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 UEB Under three things the earth trembles, and under four it cannot bear up: BSB BSB: Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 UEB a slave when he becomes king; a fool when he is filled with food; BSB BSB: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
23 UEB a hated woman when she marries; and a maid when she takes the place of her mistress. BSB BSB: an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
24 UEB Four things on earth are small and yet they are very wise: BSB BSB: Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:
25 UEB the ants are creatures that are not strong, but they prepare their food in the summer; BSB BSB: The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 UEB the rock badgers are not mighty creatures, but they make their homes in the rocks. BSB BSB: the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
27 UEB Locusts have no king, but all of them march in rank. BSB BSB: the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;
28 UEB As for the lizard, you can hold it in your two hands, yet they are found 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 UEB There are three things that are stately in their stride and four that are stately in how they walk: BSB BSB: There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
30 UEB a lion, strongest among wild animals— it does not turn away from anything; BSB BSB: a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
31 UEB a strutting rooster; a goat; and a king whose soldiers are beside him. BSB BSB: a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.
32 UEB If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil— put your hand over your mouth. BSB BSB: If you have foolishly exalted yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33 UEB As churning milk makes butter and as one's nose will produce blood if it is twisted, so deeds done in anger produce conflict. 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.