Proverbs 30
The sayings of **Agur ben Yaqeh**, an oracle to Itiel and Ukal, confess human ignorance compared to **YHWH**'s knowledge, affirm the purity of God's words, and request neither poverty nor riches to avoid denying or dishonoring **YHWH**[1][3][4]. The chapter lists observations of four things too wonderful (e.g., eagle's flight), four never satisfied (e.g., Sheol, barren womb), four small but wise (e.g., ants, rock badgers), four stately in gait (e.g., lion, rooster), and warns against pride, cursing parents, and stirring strife[1][2][3][4].
Interlinear Text
words of Agur son of Jakeh the oracle declaration of the man to Ithiel to Ithiel and Ucal
1
דִּבְרֵ֤י
𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤉
diverey
words of
HNcmpc
אָג֥וּר
𐤀𐤂𐤅𐤓
agur
Agur
HNp
בִּן
𐤁𐤍
bin
Bene (Bemba)
son of
HNcmsc
יָקֶ֗ה
𐤉𐤒𐤄
yaqeh
Jakeh
HNp
הַ/מַּ֫שָּׂ֥א
𐤄/𐤌𐤔𐤀
hamasa
the oracle
HTd/Ncmsa
נְאֻ֣ם
𐤍𐤀𐤌
neum
declaration of
HNcmsc
הַ֭/גֶּבֶר
𐤄/𐤂𐤁𐤓
hagever
the man
HTd/Ncmsa
לְ/אִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל
𐤋/𐤀𐤉𐤕𐤉𐤀𐤋
leitiel
to Ithiel
HR/Np
לְ/אִ֖יתִיאֵ֣ל
𐤋/𐤀𐤉𐤕𐤉𐤀𐤋
leitiel-2
to Ithiel
HR/Np
וְ/אֻכָֽל
𐤅/𐤀𐤊𐤋
veukhal
and Ucal
HC/Np
Surely brutish I am than any man and not understanding of a man with me
nor have I learned wisdom nor the knowledge of the Holy Ones do I know
Who? has ascended to heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists Who has wrapped the waters in His garment Who has established all the ends of earth What is His name and what is the name of His Son Surely you know!
4
מִ֤י
𐤌𐤉
mi
Who?
HTi
עָלָֽה
𐤏𐤋𐤄
alah
has ascended
HVqp3ms
שָׁמַ֨יִם
𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤌
shamayim
to heaven
HNcmpa
וַ/יֵּרַ֡ד
𐤅/𐤉𐤓𐤃
vayerad
and descended?
HC/Vqw3ms
מִ֤י
𐤌𐤉
mi-2
Who
HTi
אָֽסַף
𐤀𐤎𐤐
asaf
has gathered
HVqp3ms
ר֨וּחַ
𐤓𐤅𐤇
rucha
Roho (Swahili)
the wind
HNcbsa
בְּ/חָפְנָ֡י/ו
𐤁/𐤇𐤐𐤍𐤉/𐤅
bechafenayv
in His fists
HR/Ncmdc/Sp3ms
מִ֤י
𐤌𐤉
mi-3
Who
HTi
צָֽרַר
𐤑𐤓𐤓
tsarar
has wrapped
HVqp3ms
מַ֨יִם
𐤌𐤉𐤌
mayim
Amanzi (Zulu)
the waters
HNcmpa
בַּ/שִּׂמְלָ֗ה
𐤁/𐤔𐤌𐤋𐤄
basimelah
in His garment
HRd/Ncfsa
מִ֭י
𐤌𐤉
mi-4
Who
HTi
הֵקִ֣ים
𐤄𐤒𐤉𐤌
heqim
has established
HVhp3ms
כָּל
𐤊𐤋
kal
all
HNcmsc
אַפְסֵי
𐤀𐤐𐤎𐤉
afesey
the ends
HNcmpc
אָ֑רֶץ
𐤀𐤓𐤑
arets
of earth
HNcbsa
מַה
𐤌𐤄
mah
What
HTi
שְּׁמ֥/וֹ
𐤔𐤌/𐤅
shemo
is His name
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
וּ/מַֽה
𐤅/𐤌𐤄
umah
and what
HC/Ti
שֶּׁם
𐤔𐤌
shem
is the name
HNcmsc
בְּ֝נ֗/וֹ
𐤁𐤍/𐤅
beno
Bene (Bemba)
of His Son
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
כִּ֣י
𐤊𐤉
ki
Surely
HC
תֵדָֽע
𐤕𐤃𐤏
teda
you know!
HVqi2ms
Every word of God is refined a shield He to those who take refuge in Him
Do not add to his words lest he reprove you and be found a liar
Two things I have asked from you do not refuse from me before I die
7
שְׁ֭תַּיִם
𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤌
shetayim
Two things
HAcfda
שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי
𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤕𐤉
shaaleti
I have asked
HVqp1cs
מֵ/אִתָּ֑/ךְ
𐤌/𐤀𐤕/𐤊
meitakhe
from you
HR/R/Sp2fs
אַל
𐤀𐤋
al
do not
HTn
תִּמְנַ֥ע
𐤕𐤌𐤍𐤏
timena
refuse
HVqj2ms
מִ֝מֶּ֗/נִּי
𐤌𐤌/𐤍𐤉
mimeni
from me
HR/Sp1cs
בְּ/טֶ֣רֶם
𐤁/𐤈𐤓𐤌
beterem
before
HR/D
אָמֽוּת
𐤀𐤌𐤅𐤕
amut
I die
HVqi1cs
falsehood and deceitful words lying keep far from me poverty nor riches do not give to me feed me with bread that is my portion
8
שָׁ֤וְא
𐤔𐤅𐤀
shave
falsehood
HNcmsa
וּֽ/דְבַר
𐤅/𐤃𐤁𐤓
udevar
and deceitful words
HC/Ncmsc
כָּזָ֡ב
𐤊𐤆𐤁
kazav
lying
HNcmsa
הַרְחֵ֬ק
𐤄𐤓𐤇𐤒
harecheq
keep far
HVhv2ms
מִמֶּ֗/נִּי
𐤌𐤌/𐤍𐤉
mimeni
from me
HR/Sp1cs
רֵ֣אשׁ
𐤓𐤀𐤔
resh
poverty
HNcmsa
וָ֭/עֹשֶׁר
𐤅/𐤏𐤔𐤓
vaosher
nor riches
HC/Ncmsa
אַל
𐤀𐤋
al
do not
HTn
תִּֽתֶּן
𐤕𐤕𐤍
titen
give
HVqj2ms
לִ֑/י
𐤋/𐤉
li
to me
HR/Sp1cs
הַ֝טְרִיפֵ֗/נִי
𐤄𐤈𐤓𐤉𐤐/𐤍𐤉
haterifeni
feed me
HVhv2ms/Sp1cs
לֶ֣חֶם
𐤋𐤇𐤌
lechem
with bread
HNcbsc
חֻקִּֽ/י
𐤇𐤒/𐤉
chuqi
that is my portion
HNcmsc/Sp1cs
lest I be full and deny and say Who YHWH or lest I be poor and steal and take name of my God
9
פֶּ֥ן
𐤐𐤍
pen
lest
HC
אֶשְׂבַּ֨ע
𐤀𐤔𐤁𐤏
eseba
I be full
HVqi1cs
וְ/כִחַשְׁתִּי֮
𐤅/𐤊𐤇𐤔𐤕𐤉
vekhichasheti
and deny
HC/Vpq1cs
וְ/אָמַ֗רְתִּי
𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕𐤉
veamareti
and say
HC/Vqq1cs
מִ֥י
𐤌𐤉
mi
Who
HTi
יְה֫וָ֥ה
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄
yehvah
Nyambe (Lozi)
YHWH
HNp
וּ/פֶֽן
𐤅/𐤐𐤍
ufen
or lest
HC/C
אִוָּרֵ֥שׁ
𐤀𐤅𐤓𐤔
ivaresh
I be poor
HVNi1cs
וְ/גָנַ֑בְתִּי
𐤅/𐤂𐤍𐤁𐤕𐤉
veganaveti
and steal
HC/Vqq1cs
וְ֝/תָפַ֗שְׂתִּי
𐤅/𐤕𐤐𐤔𐤕𐤉
vetafaseti
and take
HC/Vqq1cs
שֵׁ֣ם
𐤔𐤌
shem
name
HNcmsc
אֱלֹהָֽ/י
𐤀𐤋𐤄/𐤉
elohay
Mulimu (Lozi)
of my God
HNcmpc/Sp1cs
do not slander servant to his master his master lest he curse you and you be found guilty
10
אַל
𐤀𐤋
al
do not
HTn
תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן
𐤕𐤋𐤔𐤍
taleshen
slander
HVhj2ms
עֶ֭בֶד
𐤏𐤁𐤃
eved
servant
HNcmsa
אֶל
𐤀𐤋
el
to
HR
אדנ/ו
𐤀𐤃𐤍/𐤅
dnv
his master
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
אֲדֹנָ֑י/ו
𐤀𐤃𐤍𐤉/𐤅
adonayv
his master
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
פֶּֽן
𐤐𐤍
pen
lest
HC
יְקַלֶּלְ/ךָ֥
𐤉𐤒𐤋𐤋/𐤊
yeqalelekha
he curse you
HVpi3ms/Sp2ms
וְ/אָשָֽׁמְתָּ
𐤅/𐤀𐤔𐤌𐤕
veashameta
and you be found guilty
HC/Vqq2ms
generation his father curses and his mother not bless
generation pure in his own eyes and from his filth not is washed
generation how lofty are his eyes and his eyelids are lifted up
generation swords whose teeth and whose molars [are] knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among men
14
דּ֤וֹר
𐤃𐤅𐤓
dor
generation
HNcmsa
חֲרָב֣וֹת
𐤇𐤓𐤁𐤅𐤕
charavot
swords
HNcfpa
שִׁנָּי/ו֮
𐤔𐤍𐤉/𐤅
shinayv
whose teeth
HNcbdc/Sp3ms
וּֽ/מַאֲכָל֪וֹת
𐤅/𐤌𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤅𐤕
umaakhalot
and whose molars
HC/Ncfpa
מְֽתַלְּעֹ֫תָ֥י/ו
𐤌𐤕𐤋𐤏𐤕𐤉/𐤅
metaleotayv
[are] knives
HNcfpc/Sp3ms
לֶ/אֱכֹ֣ל
𐤋/𐤀𐤊𐤋
leekhol
to devour
HR/Vqc
עֲנִיִּ֣ים
𐤏𐤍𐤉𐤉𐤌
aniyim
the poor
HAampa
מֵ/אֶ֑רֶץ
𐤌/𐤀𐤓𐤑
meerets
from the earth
HR/Ncbsa
וְ֝/אֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים
𐤅/𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤅𐤍𐤉𐤌
veeveyonim
and the needy
HC/Aampa
מֵ/אָדָֽם
𐤌/𐤀𐤃𐤌
meadam
from among men
HR/Ncmsa
the leech two daughters Give! Give! three these not are satisfied four not said Enough
15
לַֽ/עֲלוּקָ֨ה
𐤋/𐤏𐤋𐤅𐤒𐤄
laaluqah
the leech
HR/Ncfsa
שְׁתֵּ֥י
𐤔𐤕𐤉
shetey
two
HAcfdc
בָנוֹת֮
𐤁𐤍𐤅𐤕
vanot
daughters
HNcfpa
הַ֤ב
𐤄𐤁
hav
Give!
HVqv2ms
הַ֥ב
𐤄𐤁
hav-2
Give!
HVqv2ms
שָׁל֣וֹשׁ
𐤔𐤋𐤅𐤔
shalosh
three
HAcfsa
הֵ֭נָּה
𐤄𐤍𐤄
henah
these
HPp3fp
לֹ֣א
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
HTn
תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה
𐤕𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤍𐤄
tisebaenah
are satisfied
HVqi3fp
אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע
𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤏
areba
four
HAcfsa
לֹא
𐤋𐤀
lo-2
not
HTn
אָ֥מְרוּ
𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤅
ameru
said
HVqp3cp
הֽוֹן
𐤄𐤅𐤍
hon
Enough
HNcmsa
Sheol and the barren womb earth not satisfied with water and fire not says Enough
16
שְׁאוֹל֮
𐤔𐤀𐤅𐤋
sheol
Sheol
HNp
וְ/עֹ֪צֶ֫ר
𐤅/𐤏𐤑𐤓
veotser
and the barren
HC/Ncmsc
רָ֥חַם
𐤓𐤇𐤌
racham
womb
HNcbsa
אֶ֭רֶץ
𐤀𐤓𐤑
erets
earth
HNcbsa
לֹא
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
HTn
שָׂ֣בְעָה
𐤔𐤁𐤏𐤄
saveah
satisfied
HVqp3fs
מַּ֑יִם
𐤌𐤉𐤌
mayim
Amanzi (Zulu)
with water
HNcmpa
וְ֝/אֵ֗שׁ
𐤅/𐤀𐤔
veesh
and fire
HC/Ncbsa
לֹא
𐤋𐤀
lo-2
not
HTn
אָ֥מְרָה
𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤄
amerah
says
HVqp3fs
הֽוֹן
𐤄𐤅𐤍
hon
Enough
HNcmsa
eye that mocks at a father and scorns to obey a mother will pick it out ravens of the valley and will eat it young eagles
17
עַ֤יִן
𐤏𐤉𐤍
ayin
eye
HNcbsa
תִּֽלְעַ֣ג
𐤕𐤋𐤏𐤂
tileag
that mocks
HVqi3fs
לְ/אָב֮
𐤋/𐤀𐤁
leav
at a father
HR/Ncmsa
וְ/תָב֪וּז
𐤅/𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤆
vetavuz
and scorns
HC/Vqi3fs
לִֽ/יקֲּהַ֫ת
𐤋/𐤉𐤒𐤄𐤕
liqahat
to obey
HR/Ncfsc
אֵ֥ם
𐤀𐤌
em
a mother
HNcfsa
יִקְּר֥וּ/הָ
𐤉𐤒𐤓𐤅/𐤄
yiqeruha
will pick it out
HVqi3mp/Sp3fs
עֹרְבֵי
𐤏𐤓𐤁𐤉
orevey
ravens
HNcmpc
נַ֑חַל
𐤍𐤇𐤋
nachal
of the valley
HNcmsa
וְֽ/יֹאכְל֥וּ/הָ
𐤅/𐤉𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤅/𐤄
veyokheluha
and will eat it
HC/Vqi3mp/Sp3fs
בְנֵי
𐤁𐤍𐤉
veney
Bene (Bemba)
young
HNcmpc
נָֽשֶׁר
𐤍𐤔𐤓
nasher
eagles
HNcmsa
three [things] [things] which are too wonderful for me and four [things] not I know
18
שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה
𐤔𐤋𐤔𐤄
sheloshah
three [things]
HAcmsa
הֵ֭מָּה
𐤄𐤌𐤄
hemah
[things] which
HPp3mp
נִפְלְא֣וּ
𐤍𐤐𐤋𐤀𐤅
nifeleu
are too wonderful
HVNp3cp
מִמֶּ֑/נִּי
𐤌𐤌/𐤍𐤉
mimeni
for me
HR/Sp1cs
ו/ארבע
𐤅/𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤏
vrv
and four
HC/Acfsa
וְ֝/אַרְבָּעָ֗ה
𐤅/𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤄
vearebaah
[things]
HC/Acmsa
לֹ֣א
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
HTn
יְדַעְתִּֽי/ם
𐤉𐤃𐤏𐤕𐤉/𐤌
yedaetim
I know
HVqp1cs/Sp3mp
the way of the eagle in the sky the way of a serpent on a rock the way of a ship in the heart of the sea and the way of a man with a maiden
19
דֶּ֤רֶךְ
𐤃𐤓𐤊
derekhe
the way
HNcbsc
הַ/נֶּ֨שֶׁר
𐤄/𐤍𐤔𐤓
hanesher
of the eagle
HTd/Ncmsa
בַּ/שָּׁמַיִם֮
𐤁/𐤔𐤌𐤉𐤌
bashamayim
in the sky
HRd/Ncmpa
דֶּ֥רֶךְ
𐤃𐤓𐤊
derekhe-2
the way
HNcbsc
נָחָ֗שׁ
𐤍𐤇𐤔
nachash
of a serpent
HNcmsa
עֲלֵ֫י
𐤏𐤋𐤉
aley
on
HR
צ֥וּר
𐤑𐤅𐤓
tsur
a rock
HNcmsa
דֶּֽרֶךְ
𐤃𐤓𐤊
derekhe-3
the way
HNcbsc
אֳנִיָּ֥ה
𐤀𐤍𐤉𐤄
oniyah
of a ship
HNcfsa
בְ/לֶב
𐤁/𐤋𐤁
velev
in the heart
HR/Ncmsc
יָ֑ם
𐤉𐤌
yam
of the sea
HNcmsa
וְ/דֶ֖רֶךְ
𐤅/𐤃𐤓𐤊
vederekhe
and the way
HC/Ncbsc
גֶּ֣בֶר
𐤂𐤁𐤓
gever
of a man
HNcmsa
בְּ/עַלְמָֽה
𐤁/𐤏𐤋𐤌𐤄
bealemah
with a maiden
HR/Ncfsa
such is the way of a woman adulterous she eats and wipes her mouth and says not I have done wrong
20
כֵּ֤ן
𐤊𐤍
ken
such is
HTm
דֶּ֥רֶךְ
𐤃𐤓𐤊
derekhe
the way
HNcbsc
אִשָּׁ֗ה
𐤀𐤔𐤄
ishah
of a woman
HNcfsa
מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת
𐤌𐤍𐤀𐤐𐤕
menaafet
adulterous
HVprfsa
אָ֭כְלָה
𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤄
akhelah
she eats
HVqp3fs
וּ/מָ֣חֲתָה
𐤅/𐤌𐤇𐤕𐤄
umachatah
and wipes
HC/Vqq3fs
פִ֑י/הָ
𐤐𐤉/𐤄
fiha
her mouth
HNcmsc/Sp3fs
וְ֝/אָמְרָ֗ה
𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤄
veamerah
and says
HC/Vqq3fs
לֹֽא
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
HTn
פָעַ֥לְתִּי
𐤐𐤏𐤋𐤕𐤉
faaleti
I have done
HVqp1cs
אָֽוֶן
𐤀𐤅𐤍
aven
wrong
HNcmsa
Under three trembles the earth and under four not can it bear
under a servant when he becomes king and a fool when he is satisfied with bread
under an unloved woman when she gets married and a female servant when she dispossesses her mistress
23
תַּ֣חַת
𐤕𐤇𐤕
tachat
under
HR
שְׂ֭נוּאָה
𐤔𐤍𐤅𐤀𐤄
senuah
an unloved woman
HVqsfsa
כִּ֣י
𐤊𐤉
ki
when
HC
תִבָּעֵ֑ל
𐤕𐤁𐤏𐤋
tibael
she gets married
HVNi3fs
וְ֝/שִׁפְחָ֗ה
𐤅/𐤔𐤐𐤇𐤄
veshifechah
and a female servant
HC/Ncfsa
כִּֽי
𐤊𐤉
ki-2
when
HC
תִירַ֥שׁ
𐤕𐤉𐤓𐤔
tirash
she dispossesses
HVqi3fs
גְּבִרְתָּֽ/הּ
𐤂𐤁𐤓𐤕/𐤄
geviretah
her mistress
HNcfsc/Sp3fs
four things they are small ones of earth but they wise exceedingly wise
the ants a people not strong they prepare in the summer their food
rock badgers a people not mighty yet they make in the rock their houses
king there-is-no to-the-locust and-they-go-forth divided all-of-them
the lizard with hands it can be grasped yet it in the palaces of king
three [things] there are stately in their tread and four stately in their going
29
שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה
𐤔𐤋𐤔𐤄
sheloshah
three [things]
HAcmsa
הֵ֭מָּה
𐤄𐤌𐤄
hemah
there are
HPp3mp
מֵיטִ֣יבֵי
𐤌𐤉𐤈𐤉𐤁𐤉
meytivey
stately in
HVhrmpc
צָ֑עַד
𐤑𐤏𐤃
tsaad
their tread
HNcmsa
וְ֝/אַרְבָּעָ֗ה
𐤅/𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤄
vearebaah
and four
HC/Acmsa
מֵיטִ֥בֵי
𐤌𐤉𐤈𐤁𐤉
meytivey-2
stately in
HVhrmpc
לָֽכֶת
𐤋𐤊𐤕
lakhet
their going
HVqc
the lion mighty among beasts and not turns back from the face of all
strutting rooster loins or he-goat and-a-king against-whom-no-rising-up with-him
if you have been foolish in exalting yourself or if you have plotted evil hand to mouth
For churning milk produces butter and churning nose brings forth blood and churning anger produces strife
33
כִּ֤י
𐤊𐤉
ki
For
HC
מִ֪יץ
𐤌𐤉𐤑
mits
churning
HNcmsc
חָלָ֡ב
𐤇𐤋𐤁
chalav
milk
HNcmsa
י֘וֹצִ֤יא
𐤉𐤅𐤑𐤉𐤀
yotsi
produces
HVhi3ms
חֶמְאָ֗ה
𐤇𐤌𐤀𐤄
chemeah
butter
HNcfsa
וּֽ/מִיץ
𐤅/𐤌𐤉𐤑
umits
and churning
HC/Ncmsc
אַ֭ף
𐤀𐤐
af
nose
HTa
י֣וֹצִיא
𐤉𐤅𐤑𐤉𐤀
yotsi-2
brings forth
HVhi3ms
דָ֑ם
𐤃𐤌
dam
blood
HNcmsa
וּ/מִ֥יץ
𐤅/𐤌𐤉𐤑
umits-2
and churning
HC/Ncmsa
אַ֝פַּ֗יִם
𐤀𐤐𐤉𐤌
apayim
anger
HNcmda
י֣וֹצִיא
𐤉𐤅𐤑𐤉𐤀
yotsi-3
produces
HVhi3ms
רִֽיב
𐤓𐤉𐤁
riv
strife
HNcbsa