Study Desk

Sayings of Agur

The sayings^(a) of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man's utterance to Ithiel: "I am weary, God, but I can prevail.^[a]

Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.

I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.^(b)

Who has gone up^(c) to heaven and come down? Whose hands^(d) have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters^(e) in a cloak?^(f) Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name,^(g) and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!

"Every word of God is flawless;^(h) he is a shield⁽ⁱ⁾ to those who take refuge in him.

Do not add^(j) to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

"Two things I ask of you, Lord ; do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.^(k)

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown^(l) you and say, ‘Who is the Lord ?'^(m) Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.⁽ⁿ⁾

"Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

"There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;^(o)

those who are pure in their own eyes^(p) and yet are not cleansed of their filth;^(q)

those whose eyes are ever so haughty,^(r) whose glances are so disdainful;

those whose teeth^(s) are swords and whose jaws are set with knives^(t) to devour^(u) the poor^(v) from the earth and the needy from among mankind.^(w)

"The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!' they cry. "There are three things that are never satisfied,^(x) four that never say, ‘Enough!':

the grave,^(y) the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!'

"The eye that mocks^(z) a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.^(aa)

"There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:

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.

"This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I've done nothing wrong.'^(ab)

"Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

a servant who becomes king,^(ac) a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,

a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.

"Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:

Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;^(ad)

hyraxes^(ae) are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;

locusts^(af) have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;

a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces.

"There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:

a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;

a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.^[b]

"If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!^(ag)

For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife."

Sayings of King Lemuel

The sayings^(a) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!^(b)

Do not spend your strength^[a] on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.^(c)

It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine,^(d) not for rulers to crave beer,

lest they drink^(e) and forget what has been decreed,^(f) and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine^(g) for those who are in anguish!

Let them drink^(h) and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Speak⁽ⁱ⁾ up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.^(j)

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^[b]A wife of noble character^(k) who can find?^(l) She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband^(m) has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.⁽ⁿ⁾

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.^(o)

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.^(p)

When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders^(q) of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.^(r)

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise^(s) at the city gate.