Proverbs 30

1 These are the words [chronicles, utterances] of Agur [a wise man] son of Jakeh [father of a wise man]—the burden [prophecy, oracle, message from God] that this man [great man] declared to Ithiel [God is with me]: “I am weary [full of weariness, exhausted], O God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], and worn out [consumed, devoured]. word study 2 Surely I am [more brutish, the most foolish] the most ignorant of men, and I lack [do not have, am without] the understanding [discernment, wisdom] of a man [a human being, a male person]. word study 3 I have not learned [nor acquired, or gained] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment], and I have no [lack, or am devoid of] knowledge [understanding, or insight] of the Holy One [the sacred, set apart, or divine Being]. word study 4 Who [the divine Being, with ultimate power] has ascended [gone up, risen] to heaven [the spiritual realm, the abode of God] and come down [descended, returned to earth]? Who has gathered [collected, held] the wind [a blast of air] in His hands [the palm of His hand, His power]? Who has bound up [confined, wrapped] the waters [the seas, the oceans] in His cloak [His garment, His presence]? Who has established [set, fixed] all the ends [the boundaries, the limits] of the earth [the land, the world]? What is His name [His identity, His character], and what is the name [the identity, the character] of His Son [His descendant, His heir]— surely you know [are aware, understand]! word study 5 Every [all, everything] word [utterance, declaration] of God [Eloah, the one true God] is flawless [pure, refined]; He [the Lord] is a shield [protector, defender] to those who take refuge [seek shelter, trust] in Him. word study 6 Do not [in no way, lest] add [increase, continue] to His words [divine utterances, Chronicles], lest [beware that, be cautious] He rebuke [correct, reprove] you and prove [show, demonstrate] you a liar [deceiver, one who lies]. word study 7 Two [a pair, doubleness] things I ask [request, seek] of You [with You, near You]— do not [let not, withhold not] refuse [deny, withhold] me before [prior to, preceding] I die [cease to exist, pass away]: word study 8 Keep falsehood [vanity, emptiness] and deceitful words [lies, untruths] far from me. Give me neither poverty [lack, need] nor riches [wealth, abundance]; feed me with the bread [food, sustenance] that is my portion [what is needful for me, my daily provision]. word study 9 Otherwise, I may have too much [be full, satisfied] and deny You [reject, turn away from], saying, ‘Who [what, which] is the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]?’ Or I may become poor [be in need, impoverished] and steal [take secretly, deceive], profaning [dishonoring, using in vain] the name [identity, character] of my God [Elohim, the supreme God]. word study 10 Do not [refrain from, cease] slander [accuse falsely, speak evil of] a servant [slave, bondservant] to his master [lord, ruler], or he will [possibly, lest] curse [bring into contempt, condemn] you, and you will [as a result] bear the guilt [be found guilty, suffer punishment]. word study 11 There is a generation [of people, a period of time] of those who curse [lightly esteem, bring into contempt] their fathers [parental figures, authorities] and do not [absent from, neglecting to] bless [praise, honor] their mothers [maternal figures, caregivers]. word study 12 There is a generation [of people, a period of time] of those who are pure [clean, morally upright] in their own eyes [conscience, perception] and yet unwashed [not cleansed, still filthy] of their filth [moral pollution, dirt]. word study 13 There is a generation [a group of people, a period of time]—how haughty [proud, lofty] are their eyes [the source of vision, understanding] and pretentious [lifted up, full of pride] are their glances [eyelids, the window to the soul]— word study 14 there is a generation [a period of time, a group of people] whose teeth [sharp and cutting] are swords [cutting instruments] and whose jaws [powerful and devouring] are knives [like sharp knives], devouring [to eat, consume] the oppressed [aniyim, afflicted and humble] from the earth [the land, the material world] and the needy [poor and weak] from among men [humanity, the people of Adam]. word study 15 The leech [a bloodsucking creature, horse-leech] has two [a pair, dual] daughters: Give [to provide, come or set something] and Give. There are three [a quantity of thrice] things that are never [absence of] satisfied [filled with enough], four [a simple counting number] that never [absence of] say [speak, command], ‘Enough [substance, wealth, or high value]!’: word study 16 Sheol [the underworld, grave], the barren [unproductive, unrestrained] womb [compassionate, tender love], land [earth, territory] never satisfied [filled, content] with water [refreshment, source of life], and fire [refining presence, divine anger] that never says [speaks, commands], ‘Enough [sufficiency, wealth]!’ word study 17 As for the eye [the source of vision, insight] that mocks [derides, scoffs at] a father [the paternal figure, authority] and scorns [despises, holds in contempt] obedience [submission, loyalty] to a mother [the maternal figure, nurturer], may the ravens [dark, mysterious birds] of the valley [lowland, brook] pluck it out and young vultures [eagles, birds of prey] devour [consume, eat] it. word study 18 There are three [a specific quantity, thrice] things too wonderful [amazing, beyond understanding] for me, four [a complete set, a foursome] that I cannot understand [know, comprehend, or grasp]: word study 19 the way [path or journey] of an eagle [a large bird of prey] in the sky [heaven or the atmosphere], the way [manner or course] of a snake [serpent] on a rock [boulder or stone], the way [route or passage] of a ship [vessel or fleet] at sea [in the midst of the ocean], and the way [approach or behavior] of a man [great man] with a maiden [young, unmarried woman, or virgin]. word study 20 This is the way [manner of life, path of action] of an adulteress [woman who commits adultery, unfaithful wife]: She eats [consumes, devours] and wipes [erases, cleanses] her mouth [lips, edge of the mouth] and says [speaks, declares], ‘I have done [acted, worked] nothing wrong [no evil, no wickedness].’ word study 21 Under [beneath, underneath] three things [a specific number, a triad] the earth [land, ground, terrestrial sphere] trembles [shakes, quakes, is disquieted], under [beneath, underneath] four [a specific number, a quadruplet] it cannot [is not able, lacks the power] bear up [lift, support, sustain]: word study 22 a servant [slave, bondman] who becomes king [to reign, rules with authority], a fool [without sense, wickedly stupid] who is filled [satisfied, has too much] with food [bread, sustenance], word study 23 an unloved [odious, hated] woman who marries [gets married, becomes a wife], and a maidservant [female slave, servant-girl] who supplants [takes the place of, succeeds] her mistress [lady, female master, one in authority]. word study 24 Four [a specific number, denoting completeness] things on earth [the land, the physical world] are small [little, insignificant in size or importance], yet they are exceedingly [surpassingly, beyond measure] wise [intelligent, having good judgment, skilled]: word study 25 The ants [a people not strong, feeble] are creatures of little [not strong, lacking] strength, yet they store up [prepare, provide] their food [meat, provisions] in the summer [harvest season, the fruit of that season]; word study 26 the rock badgers [hyraxes, conies, or feeble folk] are creatures of little [not mighty, weak] power, yet they make their homes [houses, places, or beds] in the rocks [craggy cliffs, strong and secure places]; word study 27 the locusts [small, yet powerful, insects] have no king [ruler, monarch], yet they all [as a unified group] advance [march, go forth] in formation [ranks, by bands]; word study 28 and the lizard [small reptile, unclean creature] can be caught [seized, taken hold of] in one’s hands [open palms], yet it [the lizard, she] is found [dwells, resides] in the palaces [temples, large public buildings] of kings [royal rulers, monarchs]. word study 29 There are three [a specific number, exactly three] things that are stately [glorious to watch, majestic] in their stride [step, march, pace], and four that are impressive [comely, good, pleasing] in their walk [to walk, to go, to move]: word study 30 a lion [supreme among wild animals], mighty [strongest, like a warrior] among beasts [large quadruped mammals], refusing [turning not away] to retreat [to return, turn back] before anything [in the face of all, from the presence of any]; word study 31 a strutting [greyhound, lusty] rooster; a he-goat; and a king [against whom there is no rising up, with no resistance] with his army [no uprising, calm forces] around him. word study 32 If you have [acted foolishly, been senseless] foolishly exalted yourself [lifted yourself up, puffed up with pride] or if you have plotted [devised] evil, put your [open, powerful] hand over your mouth [lips, edge of speech]. word study 33 For as the churning [pressing, squeezing] of milk yields [brings forth, produces] butter [curd, a thick and rich substance], and the twisting [wringing, forcing] of the nose [face, countenance] draws [brings forth, causes to come out] blood [the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life], so the stirring [forcing, provoking] of anger [strong emotion, wrath] brings forth [produces, results in] strife [dispute, quarrel, conflict].” word study