Proverbs 30

²Agur said: I am not very wise at all. I do not understand things the way other people do.

³Agur said: I have not learned wisdom on my own. I do not fully know God.

⁴Who has gone up to heaven and come back down? Who holds the wind in His hands? Who controls the seas and set the edges of the earth in place? Only God can do these things.

⁵Every word God says is pure and true. He is a shield. He protects everyone who trusts in Him.

⁶Do not add your own words to what God has said. If you do, God will correct you. You will be found to be a liar.

⁷Agur prayed: God, I am asking You for two things. Please do not say no to me while I am still alive.

⁸Keep me far from empty things and from lies. Give me just enough food — not too much and not too little.

⁹If I have too much, I might forget You and say I do not need God. If I am too poor, I might steal and do wrong. Either way I could dishonour You.

¹⁰Do not tell lies against a servant to their master. If you do, that servant may curse you. You will be the guilty one.

¹¹There are people who speak badly about their father. They say nothing good about their mother. This is deeply wrong.

¹²Some people think they are clean and good inside. But they have never been truly washed from their sin. They are fooling themselves.

¹³Some people walk around looking down on everyone else. Their eyes are lifted high with pride. They think they are better than others.

¹⁴Some people use their words like swords and knives. They attack the poor. They destroy those who have nothing and need help.

¹⁵A leech has two daughters that always cry, 'Give! Give!' There are four things that are never full. They always want more.

¹⁶The grave never has enough people. A woman who cannot have children always longs for a child. Dry ground is always thirsty for rain. Fire always wants more to burn.

¹⁷If you mock your father and refuse to obey your mother, it will end very badly for you. God does not ignore this sin. Dishonour brings serious consequences.

¹⁸Agur said: There are three things that fill me with wonder. In fact, four things I cannot fully understand.

¹⁹How does an eagle fly through the air with no tracks? How does a snake glide over rock? How does a ship sail across the deep sea? These are marvellous things.

²⁰A woman who does wrong in marriage acts like nothing happened. She wipes her mouth and says she did no wrong. She does not feel sorry for her sin.

²¹Three things shake the whole earth. Four things the earth simply cannot handle. These are things that turn everything upside down.

²²The earth shakes when a servant suddenly becomes king. It also shakes when a foolish person becomes satisfied and proud.

²³The earth shakes when a hateful woman gets married. It also shakes when a servant girl takes the place of her mistress. These things upset the right order of life.

²⁴There are four small creatures on the earth. They are tiny and not powerful. But they are extremely wise. Pay attention to them.

²⁵Ants are not strong at all. But they work hard in summer. They gather food and store it for winter. That is wise planning ahead.

²⁶Conies are small and weak animals. But they build their homes in the rocks. The rocks keep them safe. They know where to go for protection.

²⁷Locusts have no king or leader over them. But they all move together as one. They work as a team without being told to.

²⁸A spider grabs on with its small hands and climbs. It gets all the way into the palace of a king. Persistence takes you to great places.

²⁹Three things move in a beautiful way. Four things are graceful and strong when they walk or move. These are things that look right.

³⁰The lion is the strongest of all animals. It does not run from anything or anyone. It walks with courage and great strength.

³¹A greyhound runs with speed and power. A male goat leads the herd with confidence. A king whom no one can challenge moves with great authority. These go well.

³²If you have acted in pride or thought evil thoughts, stop now. Put your hand over your mouth. Do not say another word. Be still.

³³When you churn milk, butter comes out. When you press a nose hard, blood comes out. When you keep pushing anger, fighting always comes out. Anger forced always leads to strife.