301 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh , the oracle . The man declares to Ithiel , to Ithiel and Ucal : 2 Surely I am more stupid than any man , And I do not have the understanding of a man . 3 Neither have I learned wisdom , Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One . 4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended ? Who has gathered the wind in His fists ? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment ? Who has established all the ends of the earth ? What is His name or His son's name ? Surely you know ! 5 Every word of God is tested ; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar .
7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die : 8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches ; Feed me with the food that is my portion , 9 That I not be full and deny You and say , "Who is the Lord ?" Or that I not be in want and steal , And profane the name of my God .
10 Do not slander a slave to his master , Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty . 11 There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother . 12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes , Yet is not washed from his filthiness . 13 There is a kind -oh how lofty are his eyes ! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance. 14 There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives , To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men .
15 The leech has two daughters , "Give ," "Give ." There are three things that will not be satisfied , Four that will not say , "Enough ": 16 Sheol , and the barren womb , Earth that is never satisfied with water , And fire that never says , "Enough ." 17 The eye that mocks a father And scorns e a mother , The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand : 19 The way of an eagle in the sky , The way of a serpent on a rock , The way of a ship in the middle of the sea , And the way of a man with a maid . 20 This is the way of an adulterous woman : She eats and wipes her mouth , And says , "I have done no wrong ." 21 Under three things the earth quakes , And under four , it cannot e bear up: 22 Under a slave when he becomes king , And a fool when he is satisfied with food , 23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband , And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress .
24 Four things are small on the earth , But they are exceedingly wise : 25 The ants are not a strong people , But they prepare their food in the summer ; 26 The shephanim are not mighty people , Yet they make their houses in the rocks ; 27 The locusts have no king , Yet all of them go out in ranks ; 28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands , Yet it is in kings' palaces .
29 There are three things which are stately in their march , Even four which are stately when they walk : 30 The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before e any , 31 The strutting e rooster , the male goat also , And a king when his army is with him. 32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth . 33 For the churning of milk produces butter , And pressing the nose brings forth blood ; So the churning of anger produces strife .
311 The words of King Lemuel , the oracle which his mother taught him: 2 What , O my son ? And what , O son of my womb ? And what , O son of my vows ? 3 Do not give your strength to women , Or your ways to that which destroys kings . 4 It is not for kings , O Lemuel , It is not for kings to drink wine , Or for rulers to desire strong drink , 5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed , And pervert the rights of all the afflicted . 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing , And wine to him whose life is bitter . 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more . 8 Open your mouth for the mute , For the rights of all the unfortunate e . 9 Open your mouth , judge righteously , And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy .
10 An excellent wife , who can find ? For her worth is far above jewels . 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain . 12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life . 13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight . 14 She is like merchant ships ; She brings her food from afar . 15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens . 16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings e she plants a vineyard . 17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong . 18 She senses that her gain is good ; Her lamp does not go out at night . 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff , And her hands grasp the spindle . 20 She extends her hand to the poor , And she stretches out her hands to the needy . 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household , For all her household are clothed with scarlet . 22 She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple . 23 Her husband is known in the gates , When he sits among the elders of the land . 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen . 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing , And she smiles at the future e . 26 She opens her mouth in wisdom , And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue . 27 She looks well to the ways of her household , And does not eat the bread of idleness . 28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: 29 "Many daughters have done nobly , But you excel them all ." 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain , But a woman who fears the Lord , she shall be praised . 31 Give her the product of her hands , And let her works praise her in the gates .
