1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh , even the prophecy : the man spake unto Ithiel , even unto Ithiel and Ucal , 2Surely I am more brutish than any man , and have not the understanding of a man . 3I neither learned wisdom , nor have the knowledge of the holy . 4Who 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 ? 5Every word of God is pure : he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6Add thou not unto his words , lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar .
The Nature of God and His Word
7Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die : 8Remove far from me vanity and lies : give me neither poverty nor riches ; feed me with food convenient for me: 9Lest 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 .
Observations of Creation
10Accuse not a servant unto his master , lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty . 11There is a generation that curseth their father , and doth not bless their mother . 12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes , and yet is not washed from their filthiness . 13There is a generation , O how lofty are their eyes ! and their eyelids are lifted up . 14There 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 .
The Warning Against Pride and Greed
15The horseleach hath two daughters , crying , Give , give . There are three things that are never satisfied , yea , four things say not, It is enough : 16The grave ; and the barren womb ; the earth that is not filled with water ; and the fire that saith not, It is enough . 17The 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.
The Four Things That Are Never Satisfied
18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 19The 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 . 20Such is the way of an adulterous woman ; she eateth , and wipeth her mouth , and saith , I have done no wickedness .
The Generation That Curses Their Parents
21For three things the earth is disquieted , and for four which it cannot bear : 22For a servant when he reigneth ; and a fool when he is filled with meat ; 23For an odious woman when she is married ; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress .
The Wisdom of Humility
24There be four things which are little upon the earth , but they are exceeding wise : 25The ants are a people not strong , yet they prepare their meat in the summer ; 26The conies are but a feeble folk , yet make they their houses in the rocks ; 27The locusts have no king , yet go they forth all of them by bands ; 28The spider taketh hold with her hands , and is in kings’ palaces . 29There be three things which go well , yea, four are comely in going : 30A lion which is strongest among beasts , and turneth not away for any; 31A greyhound ; an he goat also ; and a king , against whom there is no rising up . 32If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil , lay thine hand upon thy mouth . 33Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter , and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood : so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife .