Provérbios 30

¹ The words ofWho was an excellent man in virtue and knowledge in the time of Solomon.Agur the son of Jakeh, [even] the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even toWho were Agur's scholars or friends.Ithiel and Ucal,

² Surely I [am] moreIn this he declares his great humility who would not attribute any wisdom to himself but all to God.senseless than [any] man, and have not the understanding of a man.

³ For I haue not learned wisedome, nor atteined to the knowledge of holy things.

⁴ Who hath ascended intoMeaning, to know the secrets of God, as though he would say, «None».heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son's name, if thou canst tell?

⁵ Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.

⁶ Put nothing vnto his wordes, least he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.

⁷ TwoHe makes this request to God.[things] have I required of thee; deny [them] not to me before I die:

⁸ Remooue farre from me vanitie and lyes: giue me not pouertie, nor riches: feede me with foode conuenient for me,

⁹ Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say,Meaning, that they who put their trust in their riches forget God and that by too much wealth men have an opportunity to the same.Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].

¹⁰ Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee,In accusing him without cause.and thou be found guilty.

¹¹ There is a generation that curseth their father, and doeth not blesse their mother.

¹² There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceite, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.

¹³ There is a generation, whose eies are hautie, and their eye liddes are lifted vp.

¹⁴ There is a generation, whose teeth are as swordes, and their chawes as kniues to eate vp the afflicted out of the earth, and the poore from among men.

¹⁵ The horseleach hath twoThe leach has two forks in her tongue, which here he calls her two daughters, by which she sucks the blood, and is never satisfied: even so, the covetous extortioners are insatiable.daughters, [crying], Give, give. There are three [things that] are never satisfied, [yea], four [things] say not, [It is] enough:

¹⁶ The graue, and the barren wombe, the earth that cannot be satisfied with water, and the fire that sayeth not, It is ynough.

¹⁷ The eye [that] mocketh at [its] father, and despiseth to obey [its] mother, the ravensWhich hunt in the valley for carrion.of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

¹⁸ There be three thinges hid from me: yea, foure that I knowe not,

¹⁹ The way of an eagle in the aire, the way of a serpent vpon a stone, ye way of a ship in ye middes of the sea, and the way of a man with a maide.

²⁰ Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, andShe has her desires, and later counterfeits as though she were an honest woman.wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

²¹ For three things the earth is moued: yea, for foure it cannot susteine it selfe:

²² ForThese commonly abuse the state to which they are called.a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food;

²³ For an odious [woman] when she is married; and an handmaid that isWho is married to her master after the death of her mistress.heir to her mistress.

²⁴ There are four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] veryThey contain great doctrine and wisdom.wise:

²⁵ The pismires a people not strong, yet prepare they their meate in sommer:

²⁶ The conies a people not mightie, yet make their houses in the rocke:

²⁷ The grashopper hath no King, yet goe they forth all by bandes:

²⁸ The spider taketh holdIf man is not able to compass these common things by his wisdom, we cannot attribute wisdom to man, but folly.with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

²⁹ There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,

³⁰ A lyon which is strong among beastes, and turneth not at the sight of any:

³¹ A lusty grayhound, and a goate, and a King against whom there is no rising vp.

³² If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thy handMake a stay and continue not in doing evil.upon thy mouth.

³³ When one churneth milke, he bringeth foorth butter: and he that wringeth his nose, causeth blood to come out: so he that forceth wrath, bringeth foorth strife.