Chronological
30 ¶ The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Surely I am more carnal than any man and have not the understanding of a man.
3 I neither learned wisdom nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4 Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? who has gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound 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, if thou canst tell?
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto those that put their trust in him.
6 Do not add unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 ¶ Two things have I required of thee; do not deny me them before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread of my judgment:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and blaspheme the name of my God.
10 ¶ Do not accuse a slave in the presence of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their molars as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the destitute from among men.
15 ¶ The horseleach has two daughters, which are called, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16 Sheol; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that never says, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocks at his father, and despises the teaching of his mother, the ravens shall pluck it out of the river, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18 ¶ There are three things which are hidden from me, yea, four which I know not:
19 The track of the eagle in the air; the track of the serpent upon the rock; the track of the ship in the midst of the sea; and the track of the man in the maid.
20 Such is the track of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wickedness.
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and the fourth it cannot bear:
22 For a slave when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with bread;
23 for a rejected woman when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 ¶ There are four things which are little upon the earth, but they are wiser than the wise men:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26 the conies are but a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 the locusts have no king, yet all of them go forth by bands;
28 the spider takes hold with her hands and is in kings’ palaces.
29 ¶ There are three things which have a magnificent walk; yea, the fourth is stately in going:
30 The lion which is strongest among beasts and does not turn away for any;
31 the greyhound who is girded up of loins; a he goat also, and the king, against whom no one rises up.
32 If thou hast fallen, it is because thou hast lifted thyself up; and if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33 Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.
31 ¶ The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not give thy strength nor thy ways unto the women who destroy kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor is beer for princes
5 lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give beer unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that have heavy hearts.
7 They drink and forget their need and remember their misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for those who cannot speak in the judgment of all the sons of death.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and destitute.
Aleph
10 ¶ Who can find a valiant woman? for her price is far above precious stones.
Beth
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Gimel
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Daleth
13 She sought wool and flax and worked willingly with her hands.
He
14 She was like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.
Vau
15 She rose up even at night and gave food to her family and a portion to her maidens.
Zain
16 She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.
Cheth
17 She girded her loins with strength and strengthened her arms.
Teth
18 She perceived that her merchandise was good; her fire did not go out by night.
Jod
19 She laid her hands to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff.
Caph
20 She stretched out her hand to the poor; yea, she reached forth her hands to the destitute.
Lamed
21 She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family is clothed with double garments.
Mem
22 She makes herself tapestries; her clothing is of fine linen and purple.
Nun
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
Samech
24 She made fine linen and sold it and delivered girdles unto the merchant.
Ain
25 Strength and glory is her clothing, and she shall laugh in the last day.
Pe
26 She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of mercy is upon her tongue.
Tzaddi
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat bread in idleness.
Koph
28 Her sons rose up and called her blessed; her husband also, and he praised her.
Resh
29 Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou dost excel them all.
Schin
30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but the woman that fears the LORD shall be praised.
Tau
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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