1. The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh – an inspired utterance.This man’s utterance to Ithiel:‘I am weary, God,but I can prevail.
2. Surely I am only a brute, not a man;I do not have human understanding.
3. I have not learned wisdom,nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
4. Who has gone up to heaven and come down?Whose hands have gathered up the wind?Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is his name, and what is the name of his son?Surely you know!
5. ‘Every word of God is flawless;he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6. Do not add to his words,or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7. ‘Two things I ask of you, Lord;do not refuse me before I die:
8. keep falsehood and lies far from me;give me neither poverty nor riches,but give me only my daily bread.
9. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown youand say, “Who is the Lord?”Or I may become poor and steal,and so dishonour the name of my God.
10. ‘Do not slander a servant to their master,or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
11. ‘There are those who curse their fathersand do not bless their mothers;
12. those who are pure in their own eyesand yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13. those whose eyes are ever so haughty,whose glances are so disdainful;
14. those whose teeth are swordsand whose jaws are set with knivesto devour the poor from the earthand the needy from among the human race.
15. ‘The leech has two daughters.“Give! Give!” they cry.‘There are three things that are never satisfied,four that never say, “Enough!”:
16. the grave, the barren womb,land, which is never satisfied with water,and fire, which never says, “Enough!”