Proverbs 30

Agur speaks of his own ignorance before God, asks who has ascended into heaven, and prays for neither poverty nor riches. He catalogues the wonders of creation in numbered proverbs — things too wonderful, things never satisfied, things that are stately in their stride — exposing human pride against the backdrop of God's inscrutable works.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,	The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy. The man said to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal:
2	Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.	Surely I am more brutish than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man.
3	I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.	I have neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4	Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?	Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His son's name, if You can tell?
5	Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.	Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
6	Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.	Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke You and You be found a liar.
7	Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:	Two things I have asked of You; do not deny them to me before I die:
8	Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:	Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9	Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.	lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
10	Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.	Do not accuse a servant to His master, lest He curse You, and You be found guilty.
11	There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.	There is a generation that curses their father and does not bless their mother.
12	There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.	There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13	There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.	There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes, and their eyelids are lifted up!
14	There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.	There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaw teeth like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15	The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:	The leech has two daughters, crying, "Give, give." There are three things that are never satisfied, indeed four things that do not say, "It is enough":
16	The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.	the grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not filled with water, and the fire that does not say, "It is enough."
17	The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.	The eye that mocks at His father and despises to obey His mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.
18	There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:	There are three things which are too wonderful for me, indeed four which I do not know:
19	The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.	the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.
20	Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.	Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wickedness."
21	For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:	For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
22	For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;	for a servant when He reigns, and a fool when He is filled with food,
23	For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.	for a hateful woman when she is married, and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.
24	There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:	There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25	The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;	the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26	The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;	the conies are a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27	The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;	the locusts have no king, yet all of them go forth in bands;
28	The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.	the spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
29	There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:	There are three things which go well, indeed four are graceful in their going:
30	A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;	a lion, which is strongest among beasts and does not turn away for any;
31	A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.	a greyhound, a male goat also, and a king against whom there is no rising up.
32	If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.	If You have done foolishly in lifting up Yourself, or if You have thought evil, lay Your hand on Your mouth.
33	Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.	Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.