Proverbs 30:1-16

Revised Standard Version

The man says to Ith′i-el,
    to Ith′i-el and Ucal:^[b]
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
    I have not the understanding of a man.
³ I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
⁴ Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
    Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
    Surely you know!

⁵ Every word of God proves true;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
⁶ Do not add to his words,
    lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

⁷ Two things I ask of thee;
    deny them not to me before I die:
⁸ Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
    give me neither poverty nor riches;
    feed me with the food that is needful for me,
⁹ lest I be full, and deny thee,
    and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor, and steal,
    and profane the name of my God.

¹⁰ Do not slander a servant to his master,
    lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

¹¹ There are those who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers.
¹² There are those who are pure in their own eyes
    but are not cleansed of their filth.
¹³ There are those—how lofty are their eyes,
    how high their eyelids lift!
¹⁴ There are those whose teeth are swords,
    whose teeth are knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth,
    the needy from among men.

¹⁵ The leech^[c] has two daughters;
    “Give, give,” they cry.
Three things are never satisfied;
    four never say, “Enough”:
¹⁶ Sheol, the barren womb,
    the earth ever thirsty for water,
    and the fire which never says, “Enough.”^[d]