Proverbs 30:1-33 CEB

[1] The words of Agur, Jakeh’s son, from Massa. The man declares: I’m tired, God; I’m tired, God, and I’m exhausted. [2] Actually, I’m too stupid to be human, a man without understanding. [3] I haven’t learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the holy one. [4] Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind by the handful? Who has bound up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is this person’s name and the name of this person’s child—if you know it? [5] All God’s words are tried and true; a shield for those who take refuge in him. [6] Don’t add to his words, or he will correct you and show you to be a liar. [7] Two things I ask of you; don’t keep them from me before I die: [8] Fraud and lies—keep far from me! Don’t give me either poverty or wealth; give me just the food I need. [9] Or I’ll be full and deny you, and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or I’ll be poor and steal, and dishonor my God’s name. [10] Don’t slander a servant to his master; otherwise, the servant will curse you, and you will be guilty. [11] There are those who curse their father and don’t bless their mother. [12] There are those who think they are clean, but haven’t washed off their own excrement. [13] There are those—how arrogant are their eyes; how their eyebrows are raised! [14] There are those whose teeth are swords; their jaw is a butcher’s knife, ready to devour the needy from the earth, and the poor from humanity. [15] The leech has two daughters: “Give, give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough!”: [16] the grave and a barren womb, a land never filled with water, and fire that doesn’t say, “Enough!” [17] An eye that mocks a father and rejects obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the river valley peck it out, and the eagle’s young eat it. [18] Three things are too wonderful for me, four that I can’t figure out: [19] the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on the rock, the way of a ship out on the open sea, and the way of a man with a young woman. [20] This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and she says, “I’ve done nothing wrong!” [21] At three things the earth trembles, at four it can’t bear up: [22] at a servant when he becomes king and fools when they are full of food; [23] at a detested woman when she gets married and a female servant when she replaces her mistress. [24] Four things are among the smallest on earth, but they are extremely wise: [25] Ants as creatures aren’t strong, but they store away their food in the summer. [26] Badgers as creatures aren’t powerful, but they make their homes in the rocks. [27] Locusts don’t have a king, but they march together in ranks. [28] You can catch lizards in your hand, but they are in kings’ palaces. [29] There are three things that are excellent in their stride, four that are excellent as they walk: [30] a lion, a warrior among beasts, which doesn’t back down at anything; [31] the strut of a rooster or a male goat; and a king with his army. [32] If you’ve been foolish and arrogant, if you’ve been scheming, put your hand to your mouth, [33] because churning milk makes curds, squeezing the nose brings blood, and stirring up anger produces strife.