1. These are the sayingsand the messageof Agur son of Jakeh.Someone cries out to God,“I am completely worn out!How can I last?
2. I am far too stupidto be considered human.
3. I never was wise,and I don't understandwhat God is like.”
4. Has anyone gone up to heavenand come back down?Has anyone grabbed holdof the wind?Has anyone wrapped up the seaor marked out boundariesfor the earth?If you know of anywho have done such things,then tell me their namesand their children's names.
5. Everything God says is true—and it's a shield for allwho come to him for safety.
6. Don't change what God has said!He will correct you and showthat you are a liar.
7. There are two things, Lord,I want you to do for mebefore I die:
8. make me absolutely honestand don't let me be too pooror too rich.Give me just what I need.
9. If I have too much to eat,I might forget about you;if I don't have enough,I might stealand disgrace your name.
10. Don't tell a slave ownersomething bad about oneof the slaves.That slave will curse you,and you will be in trouble.
11. Some people curse their fatherand even their mother;
12. others think they are perfect,but they are stained by sin.
13. Some people are stuck-upand act like snobs;
14. others are so greedythat they gobble upthe poor and homeless.
15. Greed has twins,each named “Give me!”There are three or four thingsthat are never satisfied:
16. the world of the deadand a childless wife,the thirsty earthand a flaming fire.
17. Don't make fun of your fatheror disobey your mother—crows will peck out your eyes,and vultures will eatthe rest of you.
18. There are three or four thingsI cannot understand:
19. how eagles fly so highor snakes crawl on rocks,how ships sail the oceanor people fall in love.
20. An unfaithful wife says,“Sleeping with another manis as natural as eating.”
21. There are three or four thingsthat make the earth trembleand are unbearable:
22. a slave who becomes king,a fool who eats too much,
23. a hateful womanwho finds a husband,and a slave who takes the placeof the woman who owns her.
24. On this earth four thingsare small but very wise:
25. ants, who seem to be feeble,but store up foodall summer long;
26. badgers, who seem to be weak,but live among the rocks;
27. locusts, who have no king,but march like an army;
28. lizards, which can be caughtin your hand,but sneak into palaces.
29. Three or four creaturesreally strut around:
30. those fearless lionswho rule the jungle,
31. those proud cocks,those mountain goats,and those rulerswho have no enemies.
32. If you are foolishly boastingor planning something evil,then stop it now!
33. If you churn milkyou get butter;if you hit your nose,you get blood—and if you stay angry,you get in trouble.