Proverbs 30 — FBV

30Verse 1These are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. An oracle. This is what the man says, God, I'm really tired, I'm worn out.^{+Verse 2}I'm so stupid I'm not really a man; I can't even think like a human being.^{Verse 3}I have not learned wisdom; I have no knowledge of the Holy One.^{Verse 4}Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? Who holds the winds in the palm of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has set the earth's boundaries? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Are you sure you don't know?^{+Verse 5}Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.^{Verse 6}Don't add anything to his words, or he will criticize you and you'll be shown to be a liar.^{Verse 7}God, I want to request two things from you. Please don't refuse to let me have them before I come to die.^{Verse 8}Keep me from being false, help me not to tell lies. Don't make me poor or rich; just provide me with the food I need.^{Verse 9}Otherwise if I have plenty of money,⁺I may give up on you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” while if I'm poor I may steal and bring the name of my God into disrepute.^{Verse 10}Don't slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you'll suffer for it.^{Verse 11}There are some who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.^{Verse 12}There are some who see themselves as pure but they're still filthy—they have not been washed.^{Verse 13}There are some who think themselves so high and mighty, and who look down on others.^{Verse 14}There are some who have teeth like swords, incisors like knives, ready to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from society.^{Verse 15}The leech has two daughters who cry out, “Give me! Give me!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”:^{Verse 16}The grave, the womb that doesn't become pregnant, the earth thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, “Enough!”^{Verse 17}People who ridicule their fathers and despise obedience to the mother will have their eyes pecked out by wild ravens and eaten by young vultures.^{Verse 18}These three things are amazingly hard for me, four things I just can't understand:^{Verse 19}The way an eagle soars in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails across the sea, the way a man and a woman fall in love.^{Verse 20}This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: she eats,⁺she wipes her mouth, and then says, “I haven't done anything wrong!”^{Verse 21}Three things make the earth tremble, there are four things it can't support:^{Verse 22}a slave becoming a king, a stupid person eating like a pig,^{Verse 23}an unbearable woman getting married, and a maidservant taking her mistress's place.^{Verse 24}There are four things on earth that are small, but very wise:^{Verse 25}Ants—they're not strong, but they work hard all summer storing up food.^{Verse 26}Hyraxes⁺—they don't have much power, but they make their homes in the rock.^{Verse 27}Locusts—they don't have a king, but they all march in line abreast.^{Verse 28}Lizards—you can catch them in your hands, but they live in the king's palace.^{Verse 29}There are three things that are glorious to watch as they walk, four that look dignified as they move:^{Verse 30}The lion, supreme among wild animals, who isn't frightened of anything.^{Verse 31}The strutting starling,⁺the male goat, and a king with his army.^{Verse 32}If you have been foolishly boasting about yourself, or if you've been planning to do something wrong, stop and put your hand over your mouth.^{Verse 33}Just as churning milk produces butter, and twisting someone's nose makes it bleed, so stirring up anger causes arguments.