Proverbs 30; Proverbs 31; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

1 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 I'm more [like] a dumb animal than a human being. I don't [even] have human understanding.

3 I haven't learned wisdom. I don't have knowledge of the Holy One.

4 "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 has proven to be true. He is a shield to those who come to him for protection.

6 Do not add to his words, or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar.

7 "I've asked you for two things. Don't keep them from me before I die:

8 Keep vanity and lies far away from me. Don't give me either poverty or riches. Feed me [only] the food I need,

9 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 slave to his master. The slave will curse you, and you will be found guilty."

11 A certain kind of person curses his father and does not bless his mother.

12 A certain kind of person thinks he is pure but is not washed from his own feces.

13 A certain kind of person looks around arrogantly and is conceited.

14 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 bloodsucking leech has two daughters--"Give!" and "Give!" Three things are never satisfied. Four never say, "Enough!":

16 the grave, a barren womb, a land that never gets enough water, a fire that does not say, "Enough!"

17 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 amazing to me, even four that I cannot understand:

19 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 a woman who commits adultery: She eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I haven't done anything wrong!"

21 Three things cause the earth to tremble, even four it cannot bear up under:

22 a slave when he becomes king, a godless fool when he is filled with food,

23 a woman who is unloved when she gets married, a maid when she replaces her mistress.

24 Four things on earth are small, yet they are very wise:

25 Ants are not a strong species, yet they store their food in summer.

26 Rock badgers are not a mighty species, yet they make their home in the rocks.

27 Locusts have no king, yet all of them divide into swarms by instinct.

28 A lizard you can hold in your hands, yet it can even be found in royal palaces.

29 There are three things that walk with dignity, even four that march with dignity:

30 a lion, mightiest among animals, which turns away from nothing,

31 a strutting rooster, a male goat, a king at the head of his army.

32 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 As churning milk produces butter and punching a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces a fight.

1 The sayings of King Lemuel, a prophetic revelation, used by his mother to discipline him.

2 "What, my son? What, son to whom I gave birth? What, son of my prayers?

3 Don't give your strength to women or your power to those who ruin kings.

4 "It is not for kings, Lemuel. It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave liquor.

5 Otherwise, they drink and forget what they have decreed and change the standard of justice for all oppressed people.

6 Give liquor to a person who is dying and wine to one who feels resentful.

7 Such a person drinks and forgets his poverty and does not remember his trouble anymore.

8 "Speak out for the one who cannot speak, for the rights of those who are doomed.

9 Speak out, judge fairly, and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people."

10 "Who can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels.

11 Her husband trusts her with [all] his heart, and he does not lack anything good.

12 She helps him and never harms him all the days of her life.

13 "She seeks out wool and linen [with care] and works with willing hands.

14 She is like merchant ships. She brings her food from far away.

15 She wakes up while it is still dark and gives food to her family and portions of food to her female slaves.

16 "She picks out a field and buys it. She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.

17 She puts on strength like a belt and goes to work with energy.

18 She sees that she is making a good profit. Her lamp burns late at night.

19 "She puts her hands on the distaff, and her fingers hold a spindle.

20 She opens her hands to oppressed people and stretches them out to needy people.

21 She does not fear for her family when it snows because her whole family has a double layer of clothing.

22 She makes quilts for herself. Her clothes are [made of] linen and purple cloth.

23 "Her husband is known at the city gates when he sits with the leaders of the land.

24 "She makes linen garments and sells them and delivers belts to the merchants.

25 She dresses with strength and nobility, and she smiles at the future.

26 "She speaks with wisdom, and on her tongue there is tender instruction.

27 She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family, and she does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children and her husband stand up and bless her. In addition, he sings her praises, by saying,

29 'Many women have done noble work, but you have surpassed them all!'

30 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty evaporates, [but] a woman who has the fear of the LORD should be praised.

31 Reward her for what she has done, and let her achievements praise her at the city gates."

1 I want you to put up with a little foolishness from me. I'm sure that you will.

2 I'm as protective of you as God is. After all, you're a virgin whom I promised in marriage to one man--Christ.

3 However, I'm afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

4 When someone comes to you telling about another Jesus whom we didn't tell you about, you're willing to put up with it. When you receive a spirit that is different from the Spirit you received earlier, you're also willing to put up with that. When someone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you already accepted, you're willing to put up with that too.

5 I don't think I'm inferior in any way to your super-apostles.

6 Even though I'm not good with words, I know what I'm talking about. Timothy and I have made this clear to you in every possible way.

7 Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by telling you the Good News of God free of charge so that you could become important?

8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to serve you.

9 When I was with you and needed something, I didn't bother any of you for help. My friends from the province of Macedonia supplied everything I needed. I kept myself from being a financial burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do that.

10 As surely as I have Christ's truth, my bragging will not be silenced anywhere in Greece.

11 Why? Because I don't love you? God knows that I do love you.

12 But I'll go on doing what I'm doing. This will take away the opportunity of those people who want to brag because they think they're like us.

13 People who brag like this are false apostles. They are dishonest workers, since they disguise themselves as Christ's apostles.

14 And no wonder, even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15 So it's not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants who have God's approval. In the end they will get what they deserve.