Proverbs 30:1-33 NIV

Proverbs 30:1-33 NIV [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. [2] Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. [3] I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. [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! [5] “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. [6] Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. [7] “Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: [8] Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. [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. [10] “Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it. [11] “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; [12] those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; [13] those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful; [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. [15] “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: [16] the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’ [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. [18] “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not 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. [20] “This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ [21] “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: [22] a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat, [23] a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress. [24] “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: [25] Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; [26] hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; [27] locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; [28] a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces. [29] “There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: [30] a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; [31] a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt. [32] “If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth! [33] For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Find out more about this Bible translation: