Geneva Study Bible The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, The words of {a} Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to {b} Ithiel and Ucal,
(a) Who was an excellent man in virtue and knowledge in the time of Solomon. (b) Who were Agur's scholars or friends. Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. Surely I am more {c} senseless than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
(c) In this he declares his great humility who would not attribute any wisdom to himself but all to God. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
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 hath ascended into {d} 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?
(d) Meaning, to know the secrets of God, as though he would say, None. 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 unto them that put their trust in him.
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Two {e} things have I required of thee; deny them not to me before I die:
(e) He makes this request to God. 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 food convenient for me:
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 thee, and say, {f} Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
(f) Meaning, that they who put their trust in their riches forget God and that by too much wealth men have an opportunity to the same. Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, {g} and thou be found guilty.
(g) In accusing him without cause. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
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.
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 as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
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 horseleach hath two {h} daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
(h) The leach has two forks in her tongue, which here he calls her two daughters, by which she sucks the blood, and is never satisfied: even so, the covetous extortioners are insatiable. 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; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
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 mocketh at its father, and despiseth to obey its mother, the ravens {i} of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
(i) Which hunt in the valley for carrion. There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
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 upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
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 eateth, and {k} wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
(k) She has her desires, and later counterfeits as though she were an honest woman. 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:
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For {l} a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food;
(l) These commonly abuse the state to which they are called. For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is {m} heir to her mistress.
(m) Who is married to her master after the death of her mistress. There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are very {n} wise:
(n) They contain great doctrine and wisdom. 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 meat in the summer;
The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. The spider taketh hold {o} with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
(o) If man is not able to compass these common things by his wisdom, we cannot attribute wisdom to man, but folly. There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand {p} upon thy mouth.
(p) Make a stay and continue not in doing evil. 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 bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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