Proverbs 30

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,	1 The words of Agur, son of Jakeh the Massaite: The pronouncement of mortal man: "I am not God; I am not God, that I should prevail.
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.	2 Why, I am the most stupid of men, and have not even human intelligence;
3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.	3 Neither have I learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?	4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down again-- who has cupped the wind in his hands? Who has bound up the waters in a cloak-- who has marked out all the ends of the earth? What is his name, what is his son's name, if you know it?"
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.	5 Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.	6 Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be exposed as a deceiver.
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:	7 Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:	8 Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; (provide me only with the food I need;)
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.	9 Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the LORD?" Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.
10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.	10 Slander not a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you have to pay the penalty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.	11 There is a group of people that curses its father, and blesses not its mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.	12 There is a group that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not purged of its filth.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.	13 There is a group--how haughty their eyes! how overbearing their glance!
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.	14 There is a group whose incisors are swords, whose teeth are knives, Devouring the needy from the earth, and the poor from among men.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:	15 The two daughters of the leech are, "Give, Give." Three things are never satisfied, four never say, "Enough!"
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.	16 The nether world, and the barren womb; the earth, that is never saturated with water, and fire, that never says, "Enough!"
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.	17 The eye that mocks a father, or scorns an aged mother, Will be plucked out by the ravens in the valley; the young eagles will devour it.
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:	18 Three things are too wonderful for me, yes, four I cannot understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.	19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, The way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.	20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong."
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:	21 Under three things the earth trembles, yes, under four it cannot bear up:
22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;	22 Under a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is glutted with food;
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.	23 Under an odious woman when she is wed, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:	24 Four things are among the smallest on the earth, and yet are exceedingly wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;	25 Ants--a species not strong, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;	26 Rock-badgers--a species not mighty, yet they make their home in the crags;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;	27 Locusts--they have no king, yet they migrate all in array;
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.	28 Lizards--you can catch them with your hands, yet they find their way into king's palaces.
29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:	29 Three things are stately in their stride, yes, four are stately in their carriage:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;	30 The lion, mightiest of beasts, who retreats before nothing;
31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.	31 The strutting cock, and the he-goat, and the king at the head of his people.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.	32 If you have foolishly been proud or presumptuous--put your hand on your mouth;
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.	33 For the stirring of milk brings forth curds, and the stirring of anger brings forth blood.