Proverbs 30: 1 - 31: 31
1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the revelation: |
the man says to Ithiel, |
to Ithiel and Ucal: |
2“Surely I am the most ignorant man, |
and don’t have a man’s understanding. |
3I have not learnt wisdom, |
neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. |
4Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? |
Who has gathered the wind in his fists? |
Who has bound the waters in his garment? |
Who has established all the ends of the earth? |
What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know? |
5“Every word of God is flawless. |
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. |
6Don’t you add to his words, |
lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar. |
7“Two things I have asked of you. |
Don’t deny me before I die. |
8Remove far from me falsehood and lies. |
Give me neither poverty nor riches. |
Feed me with the food that is needful for me, |
9lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ |
or lest I be poor, and steal, |
and so dishonour the name of my God. |
10“Don’t slander a servant to his master, |
lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. |
11There is a generation that curses their father, |
and doesn’t bless their mother. |
12There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, |
yet are not washed from their filthiness. |
13There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! |
Their eyelids are lifted up. |
14There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, |
and their jaws like knives, |
to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from amongst men. |
15“The leech has two daughters: |
‘Give, give.’ |
“There are three things that are never satisfied; |
four that don’t say, ‘Enough:’ |
16Sheol, |
the barren womb, |
the earth that is not satisfied with water, |
and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough.’ |
17“The eye that mocks at his father, |
and scorns obedience to his mother: |
the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, |
the young eagles shall eat it. |
18“There are three things which are too amazing for me, |
four which I don’t understand: |
19The way of an eagle in the air, |
the way of a serpent on a rock, |
the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, |
and the way of a man with a maiden. |
20“So is the way of an adulterous woman: |
She eats and wipes her mouth, |
and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’ |
21“For three things the earth trembles, |
and under four, it can’t bear up: |
22For a servant when he is king, |
a fool when he is filled with food, |
23for an unloved woman when she is married, |
and a servant who is heir to her mistress. |
24“There are four things which are little on the earth, |
but they are exceedingly wise: |
25The ants are not a strong people, |
yet they provide their food in the summer. |
26The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, |
yet make they their houses in the rocks. |
27The locusts have no king, |
yet they advance in ranks. |
28You can catch a lizard with your hands, |
yet it is in kings’ palaces. |
29“There are three things which are stately in their march, |
four which are stately in going: |
30The lion, which is mightiest amongst animals, |
and doesn’t turn away for any; |
31the greyhound; |
the male goat; |
and the king against whom there is no rising up. |
32“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, |
or if you have thought evil, |
put your hand over your mouth. |
33For as the churning of milk produces butter, |
and the wringing of the nose produces blood; |
so the forcing of wrath produces strife.” |
1The words of king Lemuel; the revelation which his mother taught him. |
2“Oh, my son! |
Oh, son of my womb! |
Oh, son of my vows! |
3Don’t give your strength to women, |
nor your ways to that which destroys kings. |
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, |
it is not for kings to drink wine, |
nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’ |
5lest they drink, and forget the law, |
and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted. |
6Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, |
and wine to the bitter in soul. |
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, |
and remember his misery no more. |
8Open your mouth for the mute, |
in the cause of all who are left desolate. |
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, |
and serve justice to the poor and needy.” |
10Who can find a worthy woman? |
For her price is far above rubies. |
11The heart of her husband trusts in her. |
He shall have no lack of gain. |
12She does him good, and not harm, |
all the days of her life. |
13She seeks wool and flax, |
and works eagerly with her hands. |
14She is like the merchant ships. |
She brings her bread from afar. |
15She rises also while it is yet night, |
gives food to her household, |
and portions for her servant girls. |
16She considers a field, and buys it. |
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard. |
17She arms her waist with strength, |
and makes her arms strong. |
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. |
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night. |
19She lays her hands to the distaff, |
and her hands hold the spindle. |
20She opens her arms to the poor; |
yes, she extends her hands to the needy. |
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; |
for all her household are clothed with scarlet. |
22She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. |
Her clothing is fine linen and purple. |
23Her husband is respected in the gates, |
when he sits amongst the elders of the land. |
24She makes linen garments and sells them, |
and delivers sashes to the merchant. |
25Strength and dignity are her clothing. |
She laughs at the time to come. |
26She opens her mouth with wisdom. |
Kind instruction is on her tongue. |
27She looks well to the ways of her household, |
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. |
28Her children rise up and call her blessed. |
Her husband also praises her: |
29“Many women do noble things, |
but you excel them all.” |
30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; |
but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. |
31Give her of the fruit of her hands! |
Let her works praise her in the gates! |
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