The Latin Vulgate VUL
New Century Version NCV
1 verba Congregantis filii Vomentis visio quam locutus est vir cum quo est Deus et qui Deo secum morante confortatus ait
1
These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh.
2 stultissimus sum virorum et sapientia hominum non est mecum
2
"I am the most stupid person there is, and I have no understanding.
3 non didici sapientiam et non novi sanctorum scientiam
3
I have not learned to be wise, and I don't know much about God, the Holy One.
4 quis ascendit in caelum atque descendit quis continuit spiritum manibus suis quis conligavit aquas quasi in vestimento quis suscitavit omnes terminos terrae quod nomen eius et quod nomen filii eius si nosti
4
Who has gone up to heaven and come back down? Who can hold the wind in his hand? Who can gather up the waters in his coat? Who has set in place the ends of the earth? What is his name or his son's name? Tell me, if you know!
5 omnis sermo Dei ignitus clypeus est sperantibus in se
5
"Every word of God is true. He guards those who come to him for safety.
6 ne addas quicquam verbis illius et arguaris inveniarisque mendax
6
Do not add to his words, or he will correct you and prove you are a liar.
7 duo rogavi te ne deneges mihi antequam moriar
7
"I ask two things from you, Lord. Don't refuse me before I die.
8 vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi tribue tantum victui meo necessaria
8
Keep me from lying and being dishonest. And don't make me either rich or poor; just give me enough food for each day.
9 ne forte saturatus inliciar ad negandum et dicam quis est Dominus et egestate conpulsus furer et peierem nomen Dei mei
9
If I have too much, I might reject you and say, 'I don't know the Lord.' If I am poor, I might steal and disgrace the name of my God.
10 ne accuses servum ad dominum suum ne forte maledicat tibi et corruas
10
"Do not say bad things about servants to their masters, or they will curse you, and you will suffer for it.
11 generatio quae patri suo maledicit et quae non benedicit matri suae
11
"Some people curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 generatio quae sibi munda videtur et tamen non est lota a sordibus suis
12
Some people think they are pure, but they are not really free from evil.
13 generatio cuius excelsi sunt oculi et palpebrae eius in alta subrectae
13
Some people have such a proud look! They look down on others.
14 generatio quae pro dentibus gladios habet et commandit molaribus suis ut comedat inopes de terra et pauperes ex hominibus
14
Some people have teeth like swords; their jaws seem full of knives. They want to remove the poor from the earth and the needy from the land.
15 sanguisugae duae sunt filiae dicentes adfer adfer tria sunt insaturabilia et quartum quod numquam dicit sufficit
15
"Greed has two daughters named 'Give' and 'Give.' There are three things that are never satisfied, really four that never say, 'I've had enough!':
16 infernus et os vulvae et terra quae non satiatur aqua ignis vero numquam dicit sufficit
16
the cemetery, the childless mother, the land that never gets enough rain, and fire that never says, 'I've had enough!'
17 oculum qui subsannat patrem et qui despicit partum matris suae effodiant corvi de torrentibus et comedant illum filii aquilae
17
"If you make fun of your father and refuse to obey your mother, the birds of the valley will peck out your eyes, and the vultures will eat them.
18 tria sunt difficilia mihi et quartum penitus ignoro
18
"There are three things that are too hard for me, really four I don't understand:
19 viam aquilae in caelo viam colubri super petram viam navis in medio mari et viam viri in adulescentula
19
the way an eagle flies in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails on the sea, and the way a man and a woman fall in love.
20 talis est via mulieris adulterae quae comedit et tergens os suum dicit non sum operata malum
20
"This is the way of a woman who takes part in adultery: She acts as if she had eaten and washed her face; she says, 'I haven't done anything wrong.'
21 per tria movetur terra et quartum non potest sustinere
21
"There are three things that make the earth tremble, really four it cannot stand:
22 per servum cum regnaverit per stultum cum saturatus fuerit cibo
22
a servant who becomes a king, a foolish person who has plenty to eat,
23 per odiosam mulierem cum in matrimonio fuerit adsumpta et per ancillam cum heres fuerit dominae suae
23
a hated woman who gets married, and a maid who replaces her mistress.
24 quattuor sunt minima terrae et ipsa sunt sapientiora sapientibus
24
"There are four things on earth that are small, but they are very wise:
25 formicae populus infirmus quae praeparant in messe cibum sibi
25
Ants are not very strong, but they store up food in the summer.
26 lepusculus plebs invalida quae conlocat in petra cubile suum
26
Rock badgers are not very powerful, but they can live among the rocks.
27 regem lucusta non habet et egreditur universa per turmas
27
Locusts have no king, but they all go forward in formation.
28 stilio manibus nititur et moratur in aedibus regis
28
Lizards can be caught in the hand, but they are found even in kings' palaces.
29 tria sunt quae bene gradiuntur et quartum quod incedit feliciter
29
"There are three things that strut proudly, really four that walk as if they were important:
30 leo fortissimus bestiarum ad nullius pavebit occursum
30
a lion, the proudest animal, which is strong and runs from nothing,
31 gallus succinctus lumbos et aries nec est rex qui resistat ei
31
a rooster, a male goat, and a king when his army is around him.
32 et qui stultus apparuit postquam elatus est in sublime si enim intellexisset ori inposuisset manum
32
"If you have been foolish and proud, or if you have planned evil, shut your mouth.
33 qui autem fortiter premit ubera ad eliciendum lac exprimit butyrum et qui vehementer emungitur elicit sanguinem et qui provocat iras producit discordias
33
Just as stirring milk makes butter, and twisting noses makes them bleed, so stirring up anger causes trouble."
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.