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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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" /><title>Proverbs 30 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></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="../topmenuchap/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="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NIV</a> > Proverbs 30</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"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/proverbs/30.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="sectionhead">Sayings of Agur</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance.</p><p class="introduction">This man’s utterance to Ithiel:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“I am weary, God,</p><p class="line2">but I can prevail. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text utterance to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ukal:">a</a></sup></span> </p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Surely I am only a brute, not a man;</p><p class="line2">I do not have human understanding.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>I have not learned wisdom,</p><p class="line2">nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Who has gone up to heaven and come down?</p><p class="line2">Whose hands have gathered up the wind?</p><p class="line1">Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?</p><p class="line2">Who has established all the ends of the earth?</p><p class="line1">What is his name, and what is the name of his son?</p><p class="line2">Surely you know!</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>“Every word of God is flawless;</p><p class="line2">he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Do not add to his words,</p><p class="line2">or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>“Two things I ask of you, <span class="name">Lord</span>;</p><p class="line2">do not refuse me before I die:</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Keep falsehood and lies far from me;</p><p class="line2">give me neither poverty nor riches,</p><p class="line2">but give me only my daily bread.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you</p><p class="line2">and say, ‘Who is the <span class="name">Lord</span>?’</p><p class="line1">Or I may become poor and steal,</p><p class="line2">and so dishonor the name of my God.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>“Do not slander a servant to their master,</p><p class="line2">or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>“There are those who curse their fathers</p><p class="line2">and do not bless their mothers;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>those who are pure in their own eyes</p><p class="line2">and yet are not cleansed of their filth;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>those whose eyes are ever so haughty,</p><p class="line2">whose glances are so disdainful;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>those whose teeth are swords</p><p class="line2">and whose jaws are set with knives</p><p class="line1">to devour the poor from the earth</p><p class="line2">and the needy from among mankind.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“The leech has two daughters.</p><p class="line2">‘Give! Give!’ they cry.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“There are three things that are never satisfied,</p><p class="line2">four that never say, ‘Enough!’:</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>the grave, the barren womb,</p><p class="line2">land, which is never satisfied with water,</p><p class="line2">and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“The eye that mocks a father,</p><p class="line2">that scorns an aged mother,</p><p class="line1">will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,</p><p class="line2">will be eaten by the vultures.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>“There are three things that are too amazing for me,</p><p class="line2">four that I do not understand:</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>the way of an eagle in the sky,</p><p class="line2">the way of a snake on a rock,</p><p class="line1">the way of a ship on the high seas,</p><p class="line2">and the way of a man with a young woman.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>“This is the way of an adulterous woman:</p><p class="line2">She eats and wipes her mouth</p><p class="line2">and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>“Under three things the earth trembles,</p><p class="line2">under four it cannot bear up:</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>a servant who becomes king,</p><p class="line2">a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>a contemptible woman who gets married,</p><p class="line2">and a servant who displaces her mistress.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>“Four things on earth are small,</p><p class="line2">yet they are extremely wise:</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Ants are creatures of little strength,</p><p class="line2">yet they store up their food in the summer;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>hyraxes are creatures of little power,</p><p class="line2">yet they make their home in the crags;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>locusts have no king,</p><p class="line2">yet they advance together in ranks;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>a lizard can be caught with the hand,</p><p class="line2">yet it is found in kings’ palaces.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>“There are three things that are stately in their stride,</p><p class="line2">four that move with stately bearing:</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>a lion, mighty among beasts,</p><p class="line2">who retreats before nothing;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>a strutting rooster, a he-goat,</p><p class="line2">and a king secure against revolt. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.">b</a></sup></span> </p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>“If you play the fool and exalt yourself,</p><p class="line2">or if you plan evil,</p><p class="line2">clap your hand over your mouth!</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>For as churning cream produces butter,</p><p class="line2">and as twisting the nose produces blood,</p><p class="line2">so stirring up anger produces strife.”</p></div><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">1</span> <span class="footnotebot">With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text <i>utterance to Ithiel, <br />      to Ithiel and Ukal:</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">31</span> <span class="footnotebot">The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.</span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. 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