301 Words of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man:—I have wearied myself 'for' God, I have wearied myself 'for' God, and am consumed. 2 For I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man. 3 Nor have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know. 4 Who went up to heaven, and cometh down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound waters in a garment? Who established all ends of the earth? What 'is' His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest! 5 Every saying of God 'is' tried, A shield He 'is' to those trusting in Him. 6 Add not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false.
7 Two things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die. 8 Vanity and a lying word put far from me, Poverty or wealth give not to me, Cause me to eat the bread of my portion, 9 Lest I become satiated, and have denied, And have said, 'Who 'is' Jehovah?' And lest I be poor, and have stolen, And have laid hold of the name of my God.
10 Accuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty. 11 A generation 'is', that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless. 12 A generation—pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed. 13 A generation—how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up. 14 A generation—swords 'are' their teeth, And knives—their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from 'among' men.
15 To the leech 'are' two daughters, 'Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said 'Sufficiency;'
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.