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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Proverbs 30 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/proverbs/30.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/30.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/proverbs/30-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Ellicott</a> > <a href="../proverbs/">Proverbs</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../proverbs/29.htm" title="Proverbs 29">◄</a> Proverbs 30 <a href="../proverbs/31.htm" title="Proverbs 31">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</div><div class="chap"> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-1.htm">Proverbs 30:1</a></div><div class="verse">The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, <i>even</i> the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,</div><span class= "bld">XXX.</span><p>8.THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON END HERE. THE REST OF THE BOOK IS COMPOSED OF THREE APPENDICES: (a) THE WORDS OF AGUR; (b) THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL; AND (C) THE PRAISE OF A GOOD WIFE (Proverbs 30, 31).<p>APPENDIX (a).<p>(1) <span class= "bld">The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy.</span>—Jewish interpreters have seen in these titles (but apparently without a shadow of reason) a designation of Solomon himself, the “convener” and instructor of assemblies (<a href="/ecclesiastes/1-1.htm" title="The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.">Ecclesiastes 1:1</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-11.htm" title="The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.">Ecclesiastes 12:11</a>), son of the “obedient” man after God’s own heart. But they in all probability belong to some otherwise unknown sage, whose utterances were thought not unworthy of being joined with those of the wise King of Israel himself. In support of this view <a href="/1_kings/4-30.htm" title="And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.">1Kings 4:30</a> may be adduced as a proof of the estimation in which the wisdom of foreign nations was at this time held. The book of Job also, which possibly now was added to the canon of Scripture, is certainly of foreign, probably of Arabian, origin. Some light may be thrown upon the nationality of Agur by the words translated in the Authorised version “the prophecy” (<span class= "ital">massâ</span>)<span class= "ital">. </span>This is the term constantly employed to express the “utterance,” or, more probably, the message which a prophet “bore<span class= "ital">” </span>to his hearers, often one of gloomy import (<a href="/isaiah/13-1.htm" title="The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.">Isaiah 13:1</a>, etc.). But the term is not very appropriate to the contents of this chapter, nor to the “words of King Lemuel,” in Proverbs 31, and the expression, “the prophecy,” standing quite alone, with no other words to qualify it, is very singular. For these reasons it has been proposed to translate the beginning of the verse thus: “The words of Agur the son of Jakeh the Massan,” <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>a descendant of the Massa mentioned in <a href="/genesis/25-14.htm" title="And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,">Genesis 25:14</a> as a son of Ishmael. This would place his home probably in North Arabia, and Lemuel would be king of the same tribe.<p><span class= "bld">The man spake.—</span>The word translated “spake” is most frequently used of the revelation of God to prophets, rarely (<a href="/numbers/24-3.htm" title="And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:">Numbers 24:3</a> and <a href="/2_samuel/23-1.htm" title="Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,">2Samuel 23:1</a>) of the utterances of inspired prophets; never of the words of ordinary men.<p><span class= "bld">Unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal.—</span>These most probably were disciples of his. As their names may mean “God with me,” and “I am strong,” a fanciful delineation of their characters, in the style of the “Pilgrim’s Progress,” has been attempted by some writers. And a mystical interpretation of them, “You must have God with you, if you are to be strong,” may be found in Bishop Wordsworth’s Commentary. It has been proposed also, as is possible with a slight change in the pointing, to translate these words thus: “I am weary, O God, I am weary, and am weak,” or, “have made an end,” and to make them an introduction to <a href="/proverbs/30-2.htm" title="Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.">Proverbs 30:2</a>, which supplies the reason for this weariness, “For I am more brutish,” etc. Thus is described, it has been thought, the sinking at heart of one who has sought after God, and the more he has realised the divine excellence, has become the more conscious of his own nothingness. But this rendering is unnecessary, as the Authorised version gives a good sense.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-2.htm">Proverbs 30:2</a></div><div class="verse">Surely I <i>am</i> more brutish than <i>any</i> man, and have not the understanding of a man.</div>(2) <span class= "bld">Surely I am more brutish than any man.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">than that I can be called a man, </span>one “formed in the image of God.” (Comp. <a href="/psalms/73-22.htm" title="So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.">Psalm 73:22</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-3.htm">Proverbs 30:3</a></div><div class="verse">I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.</div>(3) <span class= "bld">The knowledge of the holy—</span><span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, the Holy One, God. (Comp. <a href="/proverbs/9-10.htm" title="The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.">Proverbs 9:10</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-4.htm">Proverbs 30:4</a></div><div class="verse">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 <i>is</i> his name, and what <i>is</i> his son's name, if thou canst tell?</div>(4) <span class= "bld">Who hath ascended up into heaven </span>. . .—The reason of Agur’s sadness is here declared. He feels himself far off from possessing anything that may be called knowledge of God or of His works. (Comp. <a href="/galatians/4-9.htm" title="But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage?">Galatians 4:9</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/13-12.htm" title="For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.">1Corinthians 13:12</a>.) The questions in this verse are intended to bring out the nothingness of man as compared with the might of the Creator of the Universe; they resemble Job 38-41, and <a href="/isaiah/40-12.htm" title="Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?">Isaiah 40:12</a> <span class= "ital">sqq.</span><p><span class= "bld">Who hath bound the waters in a garment?—</span>Stretching out the clouds as a “curtain” (<a href="/psalms/104-2.htm" title="Who cover yourself with light as with a garment: who stretch out the heavens like a curtain:">Psalm 104:2</a>; <a href="/isaiah/40-22.htm" title="It is he that sits on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in:">Isaiah 40:22</a>), to keep the rain from falling upon the earth. (Comp. <a href="/job/26-8.htm" title="He binds up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.">Job 26:8</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">What is his name</span>?—We may call Him the Self-existing (Jehovah), Powerful (Shaddai), Strong (El). Awful (Eloah) Being; we may describe Him as merciful, gracious, etc. (<a href="/exodus/34-5.htm" title="And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.">Exodus 34:5</a> <span class= "ital">sqq.</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>but no words will describe Him adequately, for not till the next life shall we see Him as He is (<a href="/1_john/3-2.htm" title="Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.">1John 3:2</a>), and He has been pleased to reveal Himself only partially to us.<p><span class= "bld">What is his son’s name?—</span>See the description of wisdom in <a href="/proverbs/8-22.htm" title="The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.">Proverbs 8:22</a> <span class= "ital">sqq., </span>and the notes there.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-5.htm">Proverbs 30:5</a></div><div class="verse">Every word of God <i>is</i> pure: he <i>is</i> a shield unto them that put their trust in him.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">Every word of God is pure.—</span>Comp. Psalms 19, where first (<a href="/context/proverbs/30-1.htm" title="The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,">Proverbs 30:1-6</a>) the glories of God as revealed in nature are described, and then (<a href="/proverbs/30-7.htm" title="Two things have I required of you; deny me them not before I die:">Proverbs 30:7</a> <span class= "ital">sqq.</span>) the excellence of the revelation of Himself in His word is extolled. Every word of God is “pure,” <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>tested and proved in the furnace of experience; <span class= "ital">e.g., </span>His promise to be a “shield” (<a href="/genesis/15-1.htm" title="After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward.">Genesis 15:1</a>) to those that trust in Him. (Comp. <a href="/psalms/18-30.htm" title="As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.">Psalm 18:30</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-6.htm">Proverbs 30:6</a></div><div class="verse">Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.</div>(6) <span class= "bld">Lest he reprove thee.—</span>Or, <span class= "ital">convict thee of thy falsehood.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-7.htm">Proverbs 30:7</a></div><div class="verse">Two <i>things</i> have I required of thee; deny me <i>them</i> not before I die:</div>(7) <span class= "bld">Two things have I required of thee.</span>—The commencement of a series of numerical proverbs. (See above on <a href="/proverbs/6-16.htm" title="These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination to him:">Proverbs 6:16</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Before I die—</span>i.e., while life lasts.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-8.htm">Proverbs 30:8</a></div><div class="verse">Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:</div>(8) <span class= "bld">Vanity.</span>—Falsehood either towards God or man.<p><span class= "bld">Food convenient for me.—</span>Literally, <span class= "ital">bread of my portion, </span>such as is apportioned to me as suitable by the care of the heavenly Father. Comp. “daily bread” (<a href="/matthew/6-11.htm" title="Give us this day our daily bread.">Matthew 6:11</a>) in the sense of “proper for our sustenance.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-9.htm">Proverbs 30:9</a></div><div class="verse">Lest I be full, and deny <i>thee</i>, and say, Who <i>is</i> the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God <i>in vain</i>.</div>(9) <span class= "bld">Lest I be full, and deny thee.—</span>For “pride and fulness of bread” were among the sins which brought destruction on Sodom (<a href="/ezekiel/16-49.htm" title="Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.">Ezekiel 16:49</a>). (Comp. <a href="/context/job/21-14.htm" title="Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.">Job 21:14-15</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">And take the name of my God in vain.—</span>Literally, <span class= "ital">handle it roughly, irreverently; </span>particularly in finding fault with His providence.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-10.htm">Proverbs 30:10</a></div><div class="verse">Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.</div>(10) <span class= "bld">Accuse not a servant—</span><span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, a slave, thus making his already hard life still more intolerable.<p><span class= "bld">And thou be found guilty </span>before God of having wronged him, and so have to bear the punishment.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-11.htm">Proverbs 30:11</a></div><div class="verse"><i>There is</i> a generation <i>that</i> curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">There is a generation </span>. . .—The words <span class= "ital">“</span>there is” are not in the Hebrew, so it is left in doubt what is the predicate of these four evil “generations,” whether Agur means by them to describe the men of his own time, or to say that such are unbearable. (Comp. <a href="/proverbs/30-21.htm" title="For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:">Proverbs 30:21</a>.) The same characters are to be found in the description of men of the “last days” (<a href="/2_timothy/3-1.htm" title="This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.">2Timothy 3:1</a> <span class= "ital">sqq</span>)<span class= "ital">.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-15.htm">Proverbs 30:15</a></div><div class="verse">The horseleach hath two daughters, <i>crying</i>, Give, give. There are three <i>things that</i> are never satisfied, <i>yea</i>, four <i>things</i> say not, <i>It is</i> enough:</div>(15) <span class= "bld">The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.—</span>The word “crying” is not in the Hebrew. The leech is here chosen as the emblem of insatiable greed; if it could speak, its “daughters,” <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>the words it would utter, would be “Give, give.” So it forms an introduction to the quartette of “insatiable things” which follow.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-16.htm">Proverbs 30:16</a></div><div class="verse">The grave; and the barren womb; the earth <i>that</i> is not filled with water; and the fire <i>that</i> saith not, <i>It is</i> enough.</div>(16) <span class= "bld">The grave.—</span>See above, on <a href="/proverbs/15-11.htm" title="Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?">Proverbs 15:11</a>, where it is translated “hell.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-17.htm">Proverbs 30:17</a></div><div class="verse">The eye <i>that</i> mocketh at <i>his</i> father, and despiseth to obey <i>his</i> mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.</div>(17) <span class= "bld">The ravens of the valley shall pick it out</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, the rebellious son shall die of a “grievous death” (<a href="/jeremiah/16-4.htm" title="They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung on the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.">Jeremiah 16:4</a>). The propensity of ravens to attack the eyes is well known.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-18.htm">Proverbs 30:18</a></div><div class="verse">There be three <i>things which</i> are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:</div>(18) <span class= "bld">Too wonderful for me.—</span>The wonder in Agur’s eyes seems to be that none of the four leave any trace behind them. (Comp. <a href="//apocrypha.org/wisdom_of_solomon/5-10.htm" title="And as a ship that passeth over the waves of the water, which when it is gone by, the trace thereof cannot be found, neither the pathway of the keel in the waves;">Wisdom Of Solomon 5:10</a> <span class= "ital">sqq.</span>) For a spiritual interpretation of these and other passages in this chapter, comp. Bishop Wordsworth’s Commentary.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-20.htm">Proverbs 30:20</a></div><div class="verse">Such <i>is</i> the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.</div>(20) <span class= "bld">Such is the way of an adulterous woman.—</span>As there is no proof of her guilt, she flatly denies it.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-22.htm">Proverbs 30:22</a></div><div class="verse">For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;</div>(22) <span class= "bld">For a servant when he reigneth.—</span>The mischief done by Oriental favourites at court, who often began life as slaves, was proverbial.<p><span class= "bld">A fool </span>(<span class= "ital">nābhāl</span>)<span class= "ital">.—See </span>above, on <a href="/proverbs/17-7.htm" title="Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.">Proverbs 17:7</a>. It is only when he has to work hard for his living that he will behave himself decently; if he gets a little money, it will soon be wasted in idleness and self-indulgence.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-23.htm">Proverbs 30:23</a></div><div class="verse">For an odious <i>woman</i> when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.</div>(23) <span class= "bld">For an</span> <span class= "bld">odious woman when she is married.—</span>She pays off, with interest, the slights which she had formerly to endure from her married friends.<p><span class= "bld">An handmaid that is heir to her mistress, </span>and who is nervously anxious to preserve her newly-acquired dignity.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-26.htm">Proverbs 30:26</a></div><div class="verse">The conies <i>are but</i> a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;</div>(26) <span class= "bld">The conies are but a feeble folk, </span>being only about as big as a rabbit, with nails instead of claws, and weak teeth. Its Hebrew name (<span class= "ital">shāphān</span>) signifies a “hider,” from its habit of living in clefts of the rocks; its scientific name is <span class= "ital">Hyrax Syriacus. </span>The translation “coney,” <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>rabbit, is a mistake. In general appearance it resembles a guinea-pig or marmot.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-28.htm">Proverbs 30:28</a></div><div class="verse">The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.</div>(28) <span class= "bld">The spider taketh hold with her hands.—</span>The lizard, rather than the spider, seems to be here intended. As each first line of these four verses is an expression of weakness, it has been proposed to translate thus: “The lizard thou canst catch with the hands, and yet,” etc. (Comp. for this praise of wisdom, <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-14.htm" title="There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:">Ecclesiastes 9:14</a> s<span class= "ital">qq.</span>)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-31.htm">Proverbs 30:31</a></div><div class="verse">A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom <i>there is</i> no rising up.</div>(31) <span class= "bld">A greyhound.—</span>It is very doubtful what animal is meant here as being <span class= "ital">“</span>girt [i.e., slender] in the loins.” Several have been suggested, <span class= "ital">e.g., </span>the horse, zebra, cock; but the rendering of the Authorised Version is as probable as any.<p><span class= "bld">A king, against whom there is no rising up.—</span>Who marches with resistless force, trampling on his conquered foes. (Comp. the description of the march of the Assyrians, <a href="/isaiah/37-24.htm" title="By your servants have you reproached the Lord, and have said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.">Isaiah 37:24</a> <span class= "ital">sqq.</span>; comp. also <a href="/isaiah/63-1.htm" title="Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.">Isaiah 63:1</a> <span class= "ital">sqq. </span>and <a href="/joel/2-2.htm" title="A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread on the mountains: a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.">Joel 2:2</a> <span class= "ital">sqq.</span>) It has been proposed to translate these words also as “a king with whom is [i.e., followed by] his people,” in much the same sense.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-32.htm">Proverbs 30:32</a></div><div class="verse">If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, <i>lay</i> thine hand upon thy mouth.</div>(32) <span class= "bld">Lay thine hand upon thy mouth—</span><span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, be silent. Agur deprecates two things which may easily lead to a quarrel, arrogance and malice. He explains this in the next verse.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/30-33.htm">Proverbs 30:33</a></div><div class="verse">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.</div>(33) <span class= "bld">Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter. . . .</span>—The same word is used in the Hebrew for the three which appear in the Authorised Version, “churning,” “wringing,” and “forcing.” The sense will be, “For (as) pressure on milk produces butter, and pressure on the nose produces blood, (so) pressure on wrath (violence towards a hot-tempered person) produces anger.” (Comp. <a href="/proverbs/15-1.htm" title="A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.">Proverbs 15:1</a>.)<p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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