Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 These are the solemn words of Agur son of Jakeh: "God is not with me, God is not with me, and I am helpless.
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The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle: The man says to Ithiel, To Ithiel and Ucal:
2 I am more like an animal than a human being; I do not have the sense we humans should have.
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"Surely I am the most ignorant man, And don't have a man's understanding.
3 I have never learned any wisdom, and I know nothing at all about God.
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I have not learned wisdom, Neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Have any ever mastered heavenly knowledge? Have any ever caught the wind in their hands? Or wrapped up water in a piece of cloth? Or fixed the boundaries of the earth? Who are they, if you know? Who are their children?
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Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know?
5 "God keeps every promise he makes. He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.
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"Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 If you claim that he said something that he never said, he will reprimand you and show that you are a liar."
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Don't you add to his words, Lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 I ask you, God, to let me have two things before I die:
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"Two things I have asked of you; Don't deny me before I die:
8 keep me from lying, and let me be neither rich nor poor. So give me only as much food as I need.
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Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;
9 If I have more, I might say that I do not need you. But if I am poor, I might steal and bring disgrace on my God.
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Lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is Yahweh?' Or lest I be poor, and steal, And so dishonor the name of my God.
10 Never criticize servants to their master. You will be cursed and suffer for it.
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"Don't slander a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 There are people who curse their fathers and do not show their appreciation for their mothers.
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There is a generation that curses their father, And doesn't bless their mother.
12 There are people who think they are pure when they are as filthy as they can be.
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There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, Yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 There are people who think they are so good - oh, how good they think they are!
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There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There are people who take cruel advantage of the poor and needy; that is the way they make their living.
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There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And their jaws like knives, To devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 A leech has two daughters, and both are named "Give me!" There are four things that are never satisfied:
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"The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; Four that don't say, 'Enough:'
16 the world of the dead, a woman without children, dry ground that needs rain, and a fire burning out of control.
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Sheol, the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; The fire that doesn't say, 'Enough;'
17 If you make fun of your father or despise your mother in her old age, you ought to be eaten by vultures or have your eyes picked out by wild ravens.
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And the eye that mocks at his father, And scorns obedience to his mother: The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, The young eagles shall eat it.
18 There are four things that are too mysterious for me to understand:
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"There are three things which are too amazing for me, Four which I don't understand:
19 an eagle flying in the sky, a snake moving on a rock, a ship finding its way over the sea, and a man and a woman falling in love.
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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 maiden.
20 This is how an unfaithful wife acts: she commits adultery, takes a bath, and says, "But I haven't done anything wrong!"
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So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'
21 There are four things that the earth itself cannot tolerate:
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"For three things the earth tremble, And under four, it can't bear up:
22 a slave who becomes a king, a fool who has all he wants to eat,
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For a servant when he is king; A fool when he is filled with food;
23 a hateful woman who gets married, and a servant woman who takes the place of her mistress.
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For an unloved woman when she is married; And a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.
24 There are four animals in the world that are small, but very, very clever:
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"There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceeding wise:
25 Ants: they are weak, but they store up their food in the summer.
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The ants are not a strong people, Yet they provide their food in the summer;
26 Rock badgers: they are not strong either, but they make their homes among the rocks.
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The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27 Locusts: they have no king, but they move in formation.
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The locusts have no king, Yet they advance in ranks;
28 Lizards: you can hold one in your hand, but you can find them in palaces.
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You can catch a lizard with your hands, Yet she is in kings' palaces.
29 There are four things that are impressive to watch as they walk:
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"There are three things which are stately in their march, Four which are stately in going:
30 lions, strongest of all animals and afraid of none;
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The lion, which is mightiest among animals, And doesn't turn away for any;
31 goats, strutting roosters, and kings in front of their people.
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The greyhound, the male goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.
32 If you have been foolish enough to be arrogant and plan evil, stop and think!
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"If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, Or if you have thought evil, Put your hand over your mouth.
33 If you churn milk, you get butter. If you hit someone's nose, it bleeds. If you stir up anger, you get into trouble.
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For as the churning of milk brings forth butter, And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; So the forcing of wrath brings forth strife."