1 The words of Ag̅ur son of Yaqeh, a message. This man declared to Ithi’ĕl, to Ithi’ĕl and Uḵal:
2 For I am more stupid than anyone, And do not have the understanding of a man.
3 And I have not learned wisdom That I should know the knowledge of the Set-apart One.
4 Who has gone up to the heavens and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name, And what is His Son’s Name, If you know it?
5 Every Word of Eloah is tried; He is a shield to those taking refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His Words, Lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 Two matters I have asked of You – Deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove falsehood and a lying word far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me my portion of bread;
9 Lest I become satisfied and deny You, And say, “Who is יהוה?” And lest I be poor, and steal, And seize the Name of my Elohim.
10 Do not slander a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, And you be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother –
12 There is a generation, clean in its own eyes, But not washed from its own filth.
13 There is a generation; Oh, how haughty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation whose teeth are swords, And whose jaw-teeth are knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.
15 The leech has two daughters: “Give! Give!” Three are not satisfied, Four that never say, “Enough”:
16 The grave, and the barren womb, Soil not satisfied with water, And fire which never says, “Enough.”
17 An eye that mocks his father, And scorns to obey his mother – Ravens of the wadi dig it out, And young eagles eat it!
18 Three matters are too marvellous for me, And four which I do not understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the heavens, The way of a snake on a rock, The way of a ship in the heart of the sea, And the way of a man with a girl.
20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She shall eat and wipe her mouth, and say, “I have not done wickedness.”
21 Under three matters the earth trembles, And under four, it is unable to bear:
22 Under a servant when he reigns, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23 Under a hated woman who marries, And a female servant who supplants her mistress.
24 There are four matters Which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The rock badgers are a weak folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags;
27 The locusts have no sovereign, Yet they all go out in formation;
28 A spider takes hold with two hands, And is in sovereigns’ palaces.
29 There are three matters That are going well, And four are good in walking:
30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from facing all;
31 A greyhound, and a male goat, And a sovereign whose army is with him.
32 If you have been foolish in lifting up yourself, Or if you have plotted evil, Put your hand on your mouth.
33 For as milk under pressure brings forth curds, And as a nose under pressure brings forth blood, So wrath under pressure brings forth strife.