New Living Translation

1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God (Elohim);<br>I am weary and worn out, O God (Elohim).<br> 2 I am too stupid to be human,<br>and I lack common sense.<br> 3 I have not mastered human wisdom,<br>nor do I know the Holy One.<br> 4 Who but God (Elohim) goes up to heaven and comes back down?<br>Who holds the wind in his fists?<br>Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?<br>Who has created the whole wide world?<br>What is his name — and his son’s name?<br>Tell me if you know!<br> 5 Every word of God (Elohim) proves true.<br>He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.<br> 6 Do not add to his words,<br>or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.<br> 7 O God (Elohim), I beg two favors from you;<br>let me have them before I die.<br> 8 First, help me never to tell a lie.<br>Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!<br>Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.<br> 9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?”<br>And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God (Elohim)’s holy name.<br> 10 Never slander a worker to the employer,<br>or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.<br> 11 Some people curse their father<br>and do not thank their mother.<br> 12 They are pure in their own eyes,<br>but they are filthy and unwashed.<br> 13 They look proudly around,<br>casting disdainful glances.<br> 14 They have teeth like swords<br>and fangs like knives.<br>They devour the poor from the earth<br>and the needy from among humanity.<br> 15 The leech has two suckers<br>that cry out, “More, more!”<br> There are three things that are never satisfied —<br>no, four that never say, “Enough!”:<br> 16 the grave,<br>the barren womb,<br>the thirsty desert,<br>the blazing fire.<br> 17 The eye that mocks a father<br>and despises a mother’s instructions<br>will be plucked out by ravens of the valley<br>and eaten by vultures.<br> 18 There are three things that amaze me —<br>no, four things that I don’t understand:<br> 19 how an eagle glides through the sky,<br>how a snake slithers on a rock,<br>how a ship navigates the ocean,<br>how a man loves a woman.<br> 20 An adulterous woman consumes a man,<br>then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”<br> 21 There are three things that make the earth tremble —<br>no, four it cannot endure:<br> 22 a slave who becomes a king,<br>an overbearing fool who prospers,<br> 23 a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,<br>a servant girl who supplants her mistress.<br> 24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:<br> 25 Ants — they aren’t strong,<br>but they store up food all summer.<br> 26 Hyraxes — they aren’t powerful,<br>but they make their homes among the rocks.<br> 27 Locusts — they have no king,<br>but they march in formation.<br> 28 Lizards — they are easy to catch,<br>but they are found even in kings’ palaces.<br> 29 There are three things that walk with stately stride —<br>no, four that strut about:<br> 30 the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,<br> 31 the strutting rooster,<br>the male goat,<br>a king as he leads his army.<br> 32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,<br>cover your mouth in shame.<br> 33 As the beating of cream yields butter<br>and striking the nose causes bleeding,<br>so stirring up anger causes quarrels.<br>