29 ¹He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. ²When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. ³Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. ⁴The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. ⁵A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. ⁶In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. ⁷The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. ⁸Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. ⁹If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. ¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. ¹¹A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. ¹²If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. ¹³The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. ¹⁴The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever. ¹⁵The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. ¹⁶When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. ¹⁷Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. ¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. ¹⁹A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. ²⁰Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. ²¹He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length. ²²An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. ²³A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. ²⁴Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not. ²⁵The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. ²⁶Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD. ²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

30 ¹The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, ²Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. ³I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. ⁴Who 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? ⁵Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. ⁶Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. ⁷Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: ⁸Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: ⁹Lest 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. ¹⁰Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. ¹¹There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. ¹²There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. ¹³There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. ¹⁴There 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. ¹⁵The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: ¹⁶The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. ¹⁷The 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. ¹⁸There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: ¹⁹The 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. ²⁰Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. ²¹For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: ²²For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; ²³For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. ²⁴There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: ²⁵The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; ²⁶The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; ²⁷The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; ²⁸The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. ²⁹There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: ³⁰A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; ³¹A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. ³²If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. ³³Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

31 ¹The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. ²What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? ³Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. ⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: ⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. ⁶Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. ⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. ⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. ⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. ¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.