301 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle:
the man says to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and Ucal: 2 “Surely I am the most ignorant man,
and don’t have a man’s understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom,
neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has bound the waters in his garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know? 5 “Every word of God is flawless.
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Don’t you add to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 “Two things I have asked of you;
don’t deny me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies.
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
Feed me with the food that is needful for me; 9 lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’
or lest I be poor, and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 “Don’t slander a servant to his master,
lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. 11 There is a generation that curses their father,
and doesn’t bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes,
yet are not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes!
Their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
and their jaws like knives,
to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 “The leach has two daughters:
‘Give, give.’
“There are three things that are never satisfied;
four that don’t say, ‘Enough:’
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 30:1-15
Commentary on Proverbs 30:1-6
(Read Proverbs 30:1-6)
Agur speaks of himself as wanting a righteousness, and having done very foolishly. And it becomes us all to have low thoughts of ourselves. He speaks of himself as wanting revelation to guide him in the ways of truth and wisdom. The more enlightened people are, the more they lament their ignorance; the more they pray for clearer, still clearer discoveries of God, and his rich grace in Christ Jesus. In ver.
Commentary on Proverbs 30:7-14
(Read Proverbs 30:7-14)
In every age there are monsters of ingratitude who ill-treat their parents. Many persuade themselves they are holy persons, whose hearts are full of sin, and who practise secret wickedness. There are others whose lofty pride is manifest. There have also been cruel monsters in every age.
Commentary on Proverbs 30:15-17
(Read Proverbs 30:15-17)
Cruelty and covetousness are two daughters of the horseleech, that still cry, "Give, give," and they are continually uneasy to themselves. Four things never are satisfied, to which these devourers are compared. Those are never rich that are always coveting. And many who have come to a bad end, have owned that their wicked courses began by despising their parents' authority.