Proverbs 30
1THUS * saith the man to them who trust in God—and [then] I conclude:
2For I am the most foolish of all men, and I have not the understanding of man in me.
3[Yet] God hath taught me wisdom: and I have gained a knowledge of holy things.
4Who hath ascended up to heaven and come down? Who hath collected the winds in his bosom? Who hath infolded the water in a mantle? Who hath a dominion over all the ends of the earth? What is his name? or what the name of his sons?
5Since all the words of God are tried, and He is a shield to them who revere Him;
6add not to His words lest He reprove thee and thou be found a liar.
7Two things I beg of thee—deprive me not of favour before I die;
8remove far from me vanity and lying. Give me neither riches nor poverty, but order for me things necessary and convenient;
9that when I am filled I may not become false and say, Who seeth me? Or being in want, steal and swear by the name of God.
10Deliver not up a servant into the hands of a master; lest he curse thee and thou be removed out of sight.
11A wicked progeny curse their father and bless not their mother.
12A wicked progeny judge themselves righteous, but have not purged their ways.
13A wicked progeny have lofty eyes and uplifted eyebrows.
14A wicked progeny have teeth like swords and grinders like cleavers, so as to consume and devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
15The leech had three daughters greatly beloved, but these three did not satisfy her—nay, even the fourth did not suffice for her to say, There is enough.
16The grave, and lust for women, and earth not satisfied with water—nay, water and fire will never say, It is enough.
17The eye which derideth a father and despiseth the old age of a mother, may the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles devour it.
18There are three things which I cannot understand, and a fourth which I know not—
19the tracks of an eagle in its flying—the footsteps of a serpent on a rock—the marks of a ship crossing the sea—and the ways of a man in youth.
20Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who, having committed the act and washed herself, saith that she hath done nothing improper.
21By three things a land is disturbed, and a fourth it cannot bear—
22a servant when he reigneth—a fool when filled with meat—
23a handmaid when she expelleth her mistress—and an odious woman when she hath a good husband.
24There are four things on the earth which are very small, yet they are wiser than the wise—
25the ants, which not having strength, provide their food in summer—
26the rabbits which being a feeble nation have built their houses among rocks—
27the locusts which, although having no king, march orderly at the word of command—
28and the eft which, dependent on its [weak] hands and being easily caught, maketh its abode in the fortresses of kings.
29There are three things which go well, and a fourth which is stately in its gait—
30a young lion the strongest of beasts which turneth not aside nor feareth any beast—
31and a cock strutting magnanimously among his hens—and a he-goat marching at the head of a flock—and a king addressing a nation.
32If thou surrender thyself to mirth and [then] engagest in battle, thou wilt incur disgrace.
33Churn milk and there will be butter, and if thou wringest the nose, blood will issue forth; so if thou usest provoking language contentions and quarrels will ensue.