29

1He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck

will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.

2When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father;

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4The king by justice makes the land stable,

but he who takes bribes tears it down.

5A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

6An evil man is snared by his sin,

but the righteous can sing and be glad.

7The righteous care about justice for the poor.

The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge.

8Mockers stir up a city,

but wise men turn away anger.

9If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man,

the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

10The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity;

and they seek the life of the upright.

11A fool vents all of his anger,

but a wise man brings himself under control.

12If a ruler listens to lies,

all of his officials are wicked.

13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.

14The king who fairly judges the poor,

his throne shall be established forever.

15The rod of correction gives wisdom,

but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

16When the wicked increase, sin increases;

but the righteous will see their downfall.

17Correct your son, and he will give you peace;

yes, he will bring delight to your soul.

18Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;

but one who keeps the law is blessed.

19A servant can’t be corrected by words.

Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

20Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21He who pampers his servant from youth

will have him become a son in the end.

22An angry man stirs up strife,

and a wrathful man abounds in sin.

23A man’s pride brings him low,

but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

24Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul.

He takes an oath, but dares not testify.

25The fear of man proves to be a snare,

but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.

26Many seek the ruler’s favor,

but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh.

27A dishonest man detests the righteous,

and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.

30

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 learned 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 Yahweh?’

or lest I be poor, and steal,

and so dishonor 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 among 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 among 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.”

31

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 value 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 among 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 Yahweh, she shall be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands!

Let her works praise her in the gates!