Proverbs

SIXTH COLLECTION

The sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh of Massa.

He says: “My God, my God, I am worn-out and weary. Too stupid to be human, I am devoid of intelligence;

I have not acquired wisdom or grasped the knowledge of the Holy One.”

Who has ascended to the heavens and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his hands? Who has encircled the waters with his cloak? Who has set the boundaries of the earth? What is his name or the name of his son? Do you know?

Every word of God is true; he is a shield in whom man can find refuge.

Add nothing to his words or he might rebuke you and accuse you of lying.

O Lord, I ask two things of You: do not deny them to me before I die.

Keep lying and falsehood far away from me; give me neither poverty nor riches. Just provide enough food to meet my needs, lest I become full and deny you or become poor

and steal satisfied, I deny you and say: “Who is the Lord?” Or else, out of necessity, I steal and profane the name of my God.

Do not accuse a slave to his master’s face, lest he curse you and you have to pay.

What kind of people are those who curse their father and do not bless their mother,

who consider themselves pure, but their sins have not been cleansed!

They have a haughty look and a disdainful eye,

their teeth are like daggers and their fangs, like blades, ready to devour the weak of the land and the poor of the people.

The leech has two daughters: “Give me!” and “Give me!”

There are three insatiable things and four that never say, “Enough”: the grave, the sterile womb, the earth longing for water, and the fire that never cries, “Enough.”

The eye that defies a father and scorns his aging mother will be gouged out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the eagles.

There are three things I cannot understand and four I do not get:

the way of the eagle through the sky, the way of the snake on the rock, the way of the ship on the high seas, and the way of the human being within the mother.

What can I say about the adulterous woman? She eats, and after wiping her mouth, she claims: “I have done nothing wrong.”

Three things make the earth tremble; there are four it cannot withstand:

the slave who turns king, the fool filled with bread,

the unbearable woman who gets married and the maid who inherits from her mistress.

There are four tiny creatures on the Earth that are among the wisest of the wise:

the ants that are without strength, but in summer ensure their supplies;

the rock-rabbits that lack vigor, but make their home in the rocks;

the locusts that have no king but move forward in organized groups;

the lizard that can be caught by hand, but lives in the palaces of kings.

Three things have a regal stride, and four possess a noble bearing:

The lion, the bravest of animals, never retreats from anything;

the cock that struts proudly among the hens; the he-goat that leads his flock, and the king at the head of his army.

If you have been foolish enough to get angry and then regret it, cover your mouth with your hand.

Since churning milk produces butter, squeezing the nose causes blood to flow, and stirring up anger leads to arguments.