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The Proverbs, Chapter 30
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1 |
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man
spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
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2 |
Surely I am more
brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
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3 |
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
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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?
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5 |
Every word of God is
pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
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6 |
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be
found a liar.
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7 |
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I
die:
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8 |
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty
nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
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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.
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10 |
Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and
thou be found guilty.
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11 |
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not
bless their mother.
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12 |
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet
is not washed from their filthiness.
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13 |
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their
eyelids are lifted up.
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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.
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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:
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16 |
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not
filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
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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.
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18 |
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four
which I know not:
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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.
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20 |
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth
her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
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21 |
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it
cannot bear:
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22 |
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he
is filled with meat;
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23 |
For an odious woman when she is married;
and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
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24 |
There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they
are exceeding wise:
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25 |
The ants are a people not strong, yet they
prepare their meat in the summer;
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26 |
The conies are but a feeble
folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
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27 |
The locusts have
no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
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28 |
The spider
taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
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29 |
There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in
going:
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30 |
A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not
away for any;
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31 |
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against
whom there is no rising up.
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32 |
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou
hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
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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.
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