New King James Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

2Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man.

2Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man.

3I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.

3Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4Who has ascended 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 know?

4Who 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!

5Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

5Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

6Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

7Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):

7Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:

8Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me;

8Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,

9Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

9That 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.

10Do not malign a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

10Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.

11There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.

11There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother.

12There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

12There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

13There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.

13There is a kind-- oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

14There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.

14There 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.

15The leech has two daughters— Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”:

15The leech has two daughters, "Give," "Give." There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, "Enough":

16The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”

16Sheol, and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, "Enough."

17The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

17The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.

18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand:

18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:

19The 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 virgin.

19The 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.

20This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wickedness.”

20This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong."

21For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up:

21Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:

22For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,

22Under a slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

23A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

23Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

24There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

24Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

25The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

25The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

26The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;

26The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks;

27The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;

28The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.

28The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.

29There are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk:

29There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

30A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from any;

30The lion which is mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,

31A greyhound, A male goat also, And a king whose troops are with him.

31The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king when his army is with him.

32If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.

32If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.

33For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

33For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org