The Words of Agur 1 WBS The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even 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 WBS Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. BSB BSB: Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
3 WBS I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. BSB BSB: I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
4 WBS Who hath ascended 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? 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 WBS Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to 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 WBS Add thou not to 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 WBS Two things have I required of thee; deny them not to me before I die: BSB BSB: Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die:
8 WBS Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 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 WBS 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 . 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 WBS Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. BSB BSB: Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
11 WBS 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 WBS There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and 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 WBS There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.BSB BSB: There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
14 WBS 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.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 WBS The horse-leech hath two daughters, crying , Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes , four things 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 WBS The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. BSB BSB: Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’
17 WBS The eye that mocketh at its father, and despiseth to obey its 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 WBS There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not: BSB BSB: There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
19 WBS 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. 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 WBS 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 WBS For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: BSB BSB: Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 WBS For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food. BSB BSB: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
23 WBS For an odious woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress. BSB BSB: an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
24 WBS There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are very wise: BSB BSB: Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:
25 WBS The ants are a people not strong, yet 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 WBS The conies are but a feeble people, yet they make their houses in the rocks; BSB BSB: the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
27 WBS The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; BSB BSB: the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;
28 WBS The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king's palaces. BSB BSB: and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
29 WBS There are three things which go well, yes, 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 WBS A lion, which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; BSB BSB: a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
31 WBS A greyhound; a he-goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. BSB BSB: a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.
32 WBS If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thy 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 WBS 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. 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.