The Words of Agur

30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.[a]

The man declares, I am weary, O God;
    I am weary, O God, and worn out.[b]
Surely I am too (A)stupid to be a man.
    I have not the understanding of a man.
I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I knowledge of (B)the Holy One.
Who has (C)ascended to heaven and come down?
    Who has (D)gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has (E)wrapped up the waters in a garment?
    Who has established all (F)the ends of the earth?
(G)What is his name, and what is his son's name?
    Surely you know!

(H)Every word of God proves true;
    he is (I)a shield to those who take refuge in him.
(J)Do not add to his words,
    lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Two things I ask of you;
    deny them not to me (K)before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
    give me neither poverty nor riches;
    feed me with the food that is (L)needful for me,
lest I be (M)full and (N)deny you
    and say, (O)“Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
    (P)and profane the name of my God.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:1 Or Jakeh, the man of Massa
  2. Proverbs 30:1 Revocalization; Hebrew The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal

Sayings of Agur

30 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)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:1 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text utterance to Ithiel, / to Ithiel and Ukal: