New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
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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These are the solemn words of Agur son of Jakeh: "God is not with me, God is not with me, and I am helpless.
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.
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I am more like an animal than a human being; I do not have the sense we humans should have.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
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I have never learned any wisdom, and I know nothing at all about God.
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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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?
5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
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"God keeps every promise he makes. He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.
6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
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If you claim that he said something that he never said, he will reprimand you and show that you are a liar."
7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die:
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I ask you, God, to let me have two things before I die:
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 me from lying, and let me be neither rich nor poor. So give me only as much food as I need.
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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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.
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 criticize servants to their master. You will be cursed and suffer for it.
11 “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;
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There are people who curse their fathers and do not show their appreciation for their mothers.
12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
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There are people who think they are pure when they are as filthy as they can be.
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;
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There are people who think they are so good - oh, how good they think they are!
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 are people who take cruel advantage of the poor and needy; that is the way they make their living.
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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A leech has two daughters, and both are named "Give me!" There are four things that are never satisfied:
16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
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the world of the dead, a woman without children, dry ground that needs rain, and a fire burning out of control.
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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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.
18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:
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There are four things that are too mysterious for me to understand:
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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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.
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 acts: she commits adultery, takes a bath, and says, "But I haven't done anything wrong!"
21 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
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There are four things that the earth itself cannot tolerate:
22 a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
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a slave who becomes a king, a fool who has all he wants to eat,
23 a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.
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a hateful woman who gets married, and a servant woman who takes the place of her mistress.
24 “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
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There are four animals in the world that are small, but very, very clever:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
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Ants: they are weak, but 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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Rock badgers: they are not strong either, but they make their homes among the rocks.
27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
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Locusts: they have no king, but they move in formation.
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
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Lizards: you can hold one in your hand, but you can find them in palaces.
29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:
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There are four things that are impressive to watch as they walk:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;
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lions, strongest of all animals and afraid of none;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.
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goats, strutting roosters, and kings in front of their people.
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 foolish enough to be arrogant and plan evil, stop and think!
33 For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”
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If you churn milk, you get butter. If you hit someone's nose, it bleeds. If you stir up anger, you get into trouble.
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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.