1 The words of Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur's prophetic revelation.+b This man's declaration: "I'm weary, O God. I'm weary and worn out, O God.

2 I'm more [like] a dumb animal than a human being. I don't [even] have human understanding.

3 I haven't learned wisdom. I don't have knowledge of the Holy One.

4 "Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the palm of his hand? Who has wrapped water in a garment? Who has set up the earth from one end to the other? What is his name or the name of his son? Certainly, you must know!

5 "Every word of God has proven to be true. He is a shield to those who come to him for protection.

6 Do not add to his words, or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar.

7 "I've asked you for two things. Don't keep them from me before I die:

8 Keep vanity and lies far away from me. Don't give me either poverty or riches. Feed me [only] the food I need,

9 or I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or I may become poor and steal and give the name of my God a bad reputation.

10 "Do not slander a slave to his master. The slave will curse you, and you will be found guilty."

11 A certain kind of person curses his father and does not bless his mother.

12 A certain kind of person thinks he is pure but is not washed from his own feces.

13 A certain kind of person looks around arrogantly and is conceited.

14 A certain kind of person, whose teeth are like swords and whose jaws are [like] knives, devours oppressed people from the earth and people from among humanity.

15 The bloodsucking leech has two daughters- "Give!" and "Give!" Three things are never satisfied. Four never say, "Enough!":

16 the grave, a barren womb, a land that never gets enough water, a fire that does not say, "Enough!"

17 The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be plucked out by ravens in the valley and eaten by young vultures.

18 Three things are too amazing to me, even four that I cannot understand:

19 an eagle making its way through the sky, a snake making its way over a rock, a ship making its way through high seas, a man making his way with a virgin.

20 This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: She eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I haven't done anything wrong!"

21 Three things cause the earth to tremble, even four it cannot bear up under:

22 a slave when he becomes king, a godless fool when he is filled with food,

23 a woman who is unloved when she gets married, a maid when she replaces her mistress.

24 Four things on earth are small, yet they are very wise:

25 Ants are not a strong species, yet they store their food in summer.

26 Rock badgers are not a mighty species, yet they make their home in the rocks.

27 Locusts have no king, yet all of them divide into swarms by instinct.

28 A lizard you can hold in your hands, yet it can even be found in royal palaces.

29 There are three things that walk with dignity, even four that march with dignity:

30 a lion, mightiest among animals, which turns away from nothing,

31 a strutting rooster, a male goat, a king at the head of his army.

32 If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself, or if you scheme, you had better put your hand over your mouth.

33 As churning milk produces butter and punching a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces a fight.