1These are the words of Agur, Jakeh’s son, a prophecy. The man said to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2“Indeed, I am the most ignorant person; I don’t have human understanding.
3I haven’t learned wisdom, and I don’t have knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has set all the ends of the earth in place? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know?
5“Every word of God is perfect. He protects those who trust in him.
6Don't add to his words, or he may correct you, and you will be proven a liar.
7“I have asked two things from you; don’t refuse me before I die:
8Keep lies and dishonesty far away from me. Don’t give me either poverty or wealth. Feed me only the food I need,
9so that I don’t become full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or become poor, and steal, and dishonor the name of my God.
10“Don’t speak badly about a servant to his master, or the master may curse you, and you will be found guilty.
11There are people who curse their father and don’t bless their mother.
12There are people who think they are pure, but they haven't been cleansed from their filth.
13There are people—oh, how proud their eyes are! They look down on others.
14There are people whose teeth are like swords and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among people.
15“The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ There are three things that are never satisfied; four that never say, ‘Enough’:
16The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough.’
17“The eye that makes fun of a father and scorns obedience to a mother—the ravens of the valley will peck it out, and the young eagles will eat it.
18There are three things that amaze me, and four that I don't understand:
19How an eagle flies in the sky, how a snake moves on a rock, how a ship sails in the middle of the sea, and how a man interacts with a young woman.
20This is also how an unfaithful woman acts: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, 'I haven't done anything wrong.'
21There are three things that make the earth tremble, and four that it cannot bear:
22A servant who becomes king, a fool who has plenty to eat,
23An unloved woman who gets married, and a servant who takes over from her mistress.
24There are four things on earth that are small, but extremely wise:
25Ants are not a strong creature, yet they store up their food in the summer.
26Rock badgers are not a powerful creature, yet they make their homes in the rocks.
27Locusts have no king, yet they advance in organized groups.
28You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is found in kings' palaces.
29There are three things that walk with majesty, and four that move with dignity:
30A lion, which is the strongest among animals and doesn't turn away from anyone;
31A greyhound, a male goat, and a king against whom no one can stand.
32If you have acted foolishly by exalting yourself, or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33For just as churning milk produces butter, and pressing a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces conflict.