Proverbs 30

1 The words of Agur the son of Yakeh, the prophecy. The man says to Iti'el, to Iti'el and Ukhal:

2 I am more boorish than anyone, I lack human discernment;

3 I have not learned enough wisdom to know the Holy One.

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has cupped the wind in the palms of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

5 Every word of God's is pure; he shields those taking refuge in him.

6 Don't add anything to his words; or he will rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

7 [God,] I have asked two things of you; don't deny them to me as long as I live -

8 keep falsehood and futility far from me, and give me neither poverty nor wealth. Yes, provide just the food I need today;

9 for if I have too much, I might deny you and say, "Who is ADONAI?"And if I am poor, I might steal and thus profane the name of my God.

10 Never disparage a slave to his master, or he will curse you, and you will deserve it.

11 There is a type of people who curse their fathers and don't bless their mothers.

12 There is a type of people clean in their own view, but not cleansed from their filth.

13 There is a type of people - how haughty their look! -utterly supercilious!

14 There is a type of people whose teeth are like swords, yes, their fangs are knives; they devour the poor from the earth, the needy from humankind.

15 The leech has two daughters; they cry, "Give! Give!" Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough!"

16 Sh'ol and a barren womb; the earth, never satisfied with water; and fire, which never says, "Enough!"

17 The eye that mocks his father and scorns obeying his mother will be pecked out by the ravens in the valley, and the vultures will eat it.

18 Three things are too wonderful for me, four beyond my knowledge

19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the open sea, and the way of a man with a girl.

20 This is how an unfaithful wife behaves: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I did nothing wrong."

21 Three things make the earth quake, four things it can't bear -

22 a slave who becomes king, a boor gorged with food,

23 a hated [wife] when her husband takes her [back], and a slave-girl who inherits from her mistress.

24 Four things on the earth are small; nevertheless, they are very wise -

25 the ants, a species not strong, yet they store up their food in the summer;

26 the coneys, a species with little power, yet they make their home in the rocks;

27 the locusts, who have no king, yet they all march out in ranks;

28 and the spiders, which you can catch in your hand, yet they are in the king's palace.

29 Three things are stately in their stride, four of stately gait

30 the lion, mightiest of beasts, which turns aside for none;

31 the greyhound, the billy-goat and the king when his army is with him.

32 If you have been boorish, exalting yourself, or if you have been scheming, lay your hand on your mouth.

33 For as pressing milk produces butter and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing out anger produces strife.

Proverbs 30 Commentary

Chapter 30

Verses 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. Verse 4 , there is a prophetic notice of Him who came down from heaven to be our Instructor and Saviour, and then ascended into heaven to be our Advocate. The Messiah is here spoken of as a Person distinct from the Father, but his name as yet secret. The great Redeemer, in the glories of his providence and grace, cannot be found out to perfection. Had it not been for Christ, the foundations of the earth had sunk under the load of the curse upon the ground, for man's sin. Who, and what is the mighty One that doeth all this? There is not the least ground to suspect anything wanting in the word of God; adding to his words opens the way to errors and corruptions.

Verses 7-9 Agur wisely prayed for a middle state, that he might be kept at a distance from temptations; he asked daily bread suited to his station, his family, and his real good. There is a remarkable similarity between this prayer and several clauses of the Lord's prayer. If we are removed from vanity and lies; if we are interested in the pardoning love of Christ, and have him for our portion; if we walk with God, then we shall have all we can ask or think, as to spiritual things. When we consider how those who have abundance are prone to abuse the gift, and what it is to suffer want, Agur's prayer will ever be found a wise one, though seldom offered. Food convenient; what is so for one, may not be so for another; but we may be sure that our heavenly Father will supply all our need, and not suffer us to want anything good for us; and why should we wish for more?

Verse 10 Slander not a servant to his master, accuse him not in small matters, to make mischief. ( 11-14 ) . 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. ( 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. ( 18-20 ) . Four things cannot be fully known. The kingdom of nature is full of marvels. The fourth is a mystery of iniquity; the cursed arts by which a vile seducer gains the affections of a female; and the arts which a vile woman uses to conceal her wickedness. ( 21-23 ) Four sorts of persons are very troublesome. Men of low origin and base spirit, who, getting authority, become tyrants. Foolish and violent men indulging in excesses. A woman of a contentious spirit and vicious habits. A servant who has obtained undue influence. Let those whom Providence has advanced from low beginnings, carefully watch against that sin which most easily besets them. ( 24-28 ) . Four things that are little, are yet to be admired. There are those who are poor in the world, and of small account, yet wise for their souls and another world. ( 29-33 ) . We may learn from animals to go well; also to keep our temper under all provocations. We must keep the evil thought in our minds from breaking out into evil speeches. We must not stir up the passions of others. Let nothing be said or done with violence, but every thing with softness and calmness. Alas, how often have we done foolishly in rising up against the Lord our King! Let us humble ourselves before him. And having found peace with Him, let us follow peace with all men.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 17

This chapter begins with a prophecy of Elijah, that there should be want of rain for some years to come, and he is directed to go first to the brook Cherith, where he should be fed by ravens, 1Ki 17:1-7, and afterwards he is sent to a widow at Zarephath, where he, she, and her son, were supported for a considerable time with a handful of meal, and a little oil in a cruse miraculously increased, 1Ki 17:8-16, whose son falling sick and dying, he restored to life, 1Ki 17:17-24.