New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.
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The words of Agur the son of Yakeh, the prophecy. The man says to Iti'el, to Iti'el and Ukhal:
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.
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I am more boorish than anyone, I lack human discernment;
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
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I have not learned enough wisdom to know the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
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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 is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
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Every word of God's is pure; he shields those taking refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
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Don't add anything to his words; or he will rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die:
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[God,] I have asked two things of you; don't deny them to me as long as I live -
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
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keep falsehood and futility far from me, and give me neither poverty nor wealth. Yes, provide just the food I need today;
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
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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 “Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
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Never disparage a slave to his master, or he will curse you, and you will deserve it.
11 “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;
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There is a type of people who curse their fathers and don't bless their mothers.
12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
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There is a type of people clean in their own view, but not cleansed from their filth.
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;
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There is a type of people - how haughty their look! -utterly supercilious!
14 those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.
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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. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
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The leech has two daughters; they cry, "Give! Give!" Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough!"
16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
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Sh'ol and a barren womb; the earth, never satisfied with water; and fire, which never says, "Enough!"
17 “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.
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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 “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:
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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 high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.
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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 the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’
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This is how an unfaithful wife behaves: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I did nothing wrong."
21 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
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Three things make the earth quake, four things it can't bear -
22 a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
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a slave who becomes king, a boor gorged with food,
23 a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.
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a hated [wife] when her husband takes her [back], and a slave-girl who inherits from her mistress.
24 “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
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Four things on the earth are small; nevertheless, they are very wise -
25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
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the ants, a species not strong, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
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the coneys, a species with little power, yet they make their home in the rocks;
27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
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the locusts, who have no king, yet they all march out in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
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and the spiders, which you can catch in your hand, yet they are in the king's palace.
29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:
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Three things are stately in their stride, four of stately gait
30 a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;
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the lion, mightiest of beasts, which turns aside for none;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.
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the greyhound, the billy-goat and the king when his army is with him.
32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!
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If you have been boorish, exalting yourself, or if you have been scheming, lay your hand on your mouth.
33 For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”
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For as pressing milk produces butter and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing out anger produces strife.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.