1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Surely I am more brutish 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 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?
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
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.
10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth 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 jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy 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:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is 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.
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
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.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy 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.
Proverbs is a book in the Old Testament of the KJV Holy Bible that contains wise sayings and teachings for moral living. Chapter 30 of Proverbs is a collection of wise words from Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur begins this chapter with a declaration, "I am weary, O God, and worn out" (Proverbs 30:1). This statement sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, as Agur shares his musings and reflections on life and wisdom. The main themes of this chapter include humility, contentment, and the fear of the Lord. Through his words, Agur teaches us the importance of living a humble and content life, and the rewards that come with having a healthy fear of the Lord.
One of the main themes of Chapter 30 is humility. Agur begins by acknowledging his own limitations and imperfections. He says, "Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man" (Proverbs 30:2). This statement is not meant to belittle himself, but rather to express his humility and recognition of his own weaknesses. Agur understands that he is not all-knowing and that he needs God's wisdom and guidance in his life.
Agur then goes on to ask a series of rhetorical questions, "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!" (Proverbs 30:4). These questions serve to remind us of God's greatness and our own insignificance in comparison. Agur is humbling himself before God and acknowledging that only God has the answers to these questions.
Agur also shares his observations of the world around him, noting the things that are mysterious and unexplainable. He says, "Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin" (Proverbs 30:18-19). Through these observations, Agur is reminding us that there are things in this world that are beyond our understanding and that we must humbly accept our limitations.
Another theme in Chapter 30 is contentment. Agur expresses contentment with his own life and possessions, saying, "Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:7-9). Agur is content with having just enough to sustain himself and his family. He understands the dangers of both poverty and wealth, and he asks God to provide him with just enough to live a simple and honest life.
Agur also warns against the dangers of greed and excess. He says, "The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, 'Enough': Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, 'Enough'" (Proverbs 30:15-16). Through these examples, Agur is cautioning us against the pursuit of wealth and material possessions. He reminds us that these things will never bring true satisfaction and that we should be content with what we have instead of constantly seeking more.
The fear of the Lord is a recurring theme throughout the book of Proverbs, and it is also present in Chapter 30. Agur says, "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:5-6). Agur is emphasizing the importance of following God's commandments and not adding or taking away from them. He understands the consequences of disobeying God and warns us against it.
Agur also teaches us about the dangers of pride and arrogance. He says, "There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. There are those - how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!" (Proverbs 30:12-13). These verses serve as a reminder that God detests pride and that we should always approach him with humility and a healthy fear.
Chapter 30 of Proverbs is a reflection on life and wisdom from Agur, son of Jakeh. Through his words, Agur teaches us the importance of living a humble and content life, and the rewards that come with having a healthy fear of the Lord. He reminds us of our limitations and the greatness of God, and cautions us against the pursuit of wealth and the dangers of pride. Ultimately, Chapter 30 of Proverbs serves as a reminder to live a life that is pleasing to God, filled with humility, contentment, and a healthy fear of the Lord.
In conclusion, Chapter 30 of Proverbs is a valuable addition to the book of wisdom, providing us with wise teachings and reflections from Agur. It serves as a reminder to humbly seek God's wisdom and to be content with what we have. Through this chapter, we are reminded of the importance of the fear of the Lord in our lives and the dangers of pride and greed. As we continue to read and study Proverbs, may we take these lessons to heart and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God.
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