Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ith'i-el, to Ith'i-el and Ucal:
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The words of Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur's prophetic revelation. This man's declaration: "I'm weary, O God. I'm weary and worn out, O God.
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.
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I'm more [like] a dumb animal than a human being. I don't [even] have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
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I haven't learned wisdom. I don't have knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up 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? Surely you know!
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"Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the palm of his hand? Who has wrapped water in a garment? Who has set up the earth from one end to the other? What is his name or the name of his son? Certainly, you must know!
5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
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"Every word of God has proven to be true. He is a shield to those who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
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Do not add to his words, or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar.
7 Two things I ask of thee; deny them not to me before I die:
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"I've asked you for two things. Don't keep them from me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
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Keep vanity and lies far away from me. Don't give me either poverty or riches. Feed me [only] the food I need,
9 lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
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or I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or I may become poor and steal and give the name of my God a bad reputation.
10 Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
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"Do not slander a slave to his master. The slave will curse you, and you will be found guilty."
11 There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
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A certain kind of person curses his father and does not bless his mother.
12 There are those who are pure in their own eyes but are not cleansed of their filth.
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A certain kind of person thinks he is pure but is not washed from his own feces.
13 There are those--how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!
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A certain kind of person looks around arrogantly and is conceited.
14 There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among men.
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A certain kind of person, whose teeth are like swords and whose jaws are [like] knives, devours oppressed people from the earth and people from among humanity.
15 The leech has two daughters; "Give, give," they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough":
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The bloodsucking leech has two daughters--"Give!" and "Give!" Three things are never satisfied. Four never say, "Enough!":
16 Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire which never says, "Enough."
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the grave, a barren womb, a land that never gets enough water, a fire that does not say, "Enough!"
17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.
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The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be plucked out by ravens in the valley and eaten by young vultures.
18 Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:
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Three things are too amazing to me, even four that I cannot understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.
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an eagle making its way through the sky, a snake making its way over a rock, a ship making its way through high seas, a man making his way with a virgin.
20 This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong."
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This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: She eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I haven't done anything wrong!"
21 Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:
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Three things cause the earth to tremble, even four it cannot bear up under:
22 a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;
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a slave when he becomes king, a godless fool when he is filled with food,
23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.
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a woman who is unloved when she gets married, a maid when she replaces her mistress.
24 Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
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Four things on earth are small, yet they are very wise:
25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;
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Ants are not a strong species, yet they store their food in summer.
26 the badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
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Rock badgers are not a mighty species, yet they make their home in the rocks.
27 the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank;
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Locusts have no king, yet all of them divide into swarms by instinct.
28 the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces.
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A lizard you can hold in your hands, yet it can even be found in royal palaces.
29 Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride:
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There are three things that walk with dignity, even four that march with dignity:
30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any;
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a lion, mightiest among animals, which turns away from nothing,
31 the strutting cock, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people.
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a strutting rooster, a male goat, a king at the head of his army.
32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
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If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself, or if you scheme, you had better put your hand over your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.
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As churning milk produces butter and punching a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces a fight.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.