1 T he words of Agur the son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 F or sure, I am more foolish than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man.

3 I have not learned wisdom, and I do not know much about the Holy One.

4 W ho has gone up into heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has gathered the waters in His coat? Who has put in place all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? For sure you know!

5 E very word of God has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him.

6 D o not add to His words, or He will speak strong words to you and prove you to be a liar.

7 T wo things I have asked of You. Do not keep me from having them before I die:

8 T ake lies and what is false far from me. Do not let me be poor or rich. Feed me with the food that I need.

9 T hen I will not be afraid that I will be full and turn my back against You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And I will not be afraid that I will be poor and steal, and bring shame on the name of my God.

10 D o not speak against a slave while talking with his owner, or he may curse you and you will be found guilty.

11 T here are those who curse their fathers, and do not honor their mothers.

12 T here are people who are pure in their own eyes, but are not washed from their own dirt.

13 T here is a kind, O, how proud are his eyes! His eyes are opened wide with pride.

14 T here is a kind of man whose teeth are swords, whose jaws are like knives, who eat up those who are suffering from the earth, and those in need from among men.

15 T he one who lives by the blood of another has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that are never filled, four that never say, “Enough”:

16 T he place of the dead, the woman who cannot have children, the earth that is always thirsty for water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”

17 T he eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the young eagles.

18 T here are three things which are too great for me, four which I do not understand:

19 T he way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship out at sea, and the way of a man with a woman.

20 T his is the way of a woman who is not faithful in marriage: She eats and washes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong.”

21 U nder three things the earth shakes, and under four it cannot stand:

22 U nder a servant when he becomes king, under a fool when he is filled with food,

23 u nder a woman who is not loved when she gets a husband, and under a woman servant when she takes the place of the woman of the house.

24 T here are four things that are small on the earth, but they are very wise:

25 T he ants are not a strong people, but they store up their food in the summer.

26 T he badgers are not a strong people, but they make their houses in the rocks.

27 T he locusts have no king, but they go as an army.

28 Y ou can take the lizard in your hands, but it is found in kings’ houses.

29 T here are three things which have honor in their steps, even four which show honor in their walk:

30 T he lion, which is powerful among wild animals and does not turn away from any,

31 t he proud rooster, the male goat, and a king when his army is with him.

32 I f you have been foolish in honoring yourself, or if you have planned wrong-doing, put your hand on your mouth.

33 S haking milk makes butter, and hitting the nose brings blood. So fighting comes because of anger.