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¹ The words of Agur the sonne of Iakeh, euen the prophecy: The man spake vnto Ithiel, euen vnto Ithiel and Ucal. ² Surely I am more brutish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man. ³ I neither learned wisedome, nor haue the knowledge of the holy. ⁴ Who hath ascended vp into heauen, 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 sonnes name, if thou canst tell? ⁵ Euery word of God is pure: he is a shield vnto them that put their trust in him. ⁶ Adde thou not vnto his words, lest he reproue thee, and thou be found a lyar.

⁷ Two things haue I required of thee, deny me them not before I die. ⁸ Remoue farre from mee vanity, and lyes; giue me neither pouerty, nor riches, feede me with food conuenient for me. ⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poore, and steale, and take the name of my God in vaine.

¹⁰ Accuse not a seruant vnto his master; lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. ¹¹ There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not blesse their mother. ¹² There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthinesse. ¹³ There is a generation, O howe lofty are their eyes! and their eye-lids are lifted vp. ¹⁴ There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their iaw-teeth as kniues, to deuoure the poore from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

¹⁵ The horse-leach hath two daughters, crying, Giue, giue. There are three things that are neuer satisfied, yea foure things say not, It is enough: ¹⁶ The graue; and the barren wombe; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. ¹⁷ The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother; the rauens of the valley shall picke it out, and the young Eagles shall eate it.

¹⁸ There be three things which are too wonderfull for me; yea foure, which I know not: ¹⁹ The way of an Eagle in the ayre; the way of a serpent vpon a rocke; the the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. ²⁰ Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I haue done no wickednesse. ²¹ For three things the earth is disquieted, and for foure which it cannot beare: ²² For a seruant when he reigneth, and a foole when hee is filled with meate: ²³ For an odious woman when shee is married, and an handmayd that is heire to her mistresse.

²⁴ There be foure things which are little vpon the earth; but they are exceeding wise: ²⁵ The Ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meate in the summer. ²⁶ The conies are but a feeble folke, yet make they their houses in the rocks ²⁷ The locustes haue no king, yet goe they forth all of them by bands. ²⁸ The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings palaces.

²⁹ There be three things which goe well, yea foure are comely in going: ³⁰ A lyon which is strongest among beastes, and turneth not away for any: ³¹ A gray-hound; an hee-goate also; and a king, against whom there is no rising vp. ³² If thou hast done foolishly in lifting vp thy selfe, or if thou hast thought euill, lay thine hand vpon thy mouth. ³³ Surely the churning of milke bringeth forth butter; and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.