193 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
193 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
The Sayings of Agur
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# Chapter 30
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1. The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.
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I am weary, O God;
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I am weary and worn out, O God.
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2. I am too stupid to be human,
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and I lack common sense.
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3. I have not mastered human wisdom,
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nor do I know the Holy One.
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4. Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
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Who holds the wind in his fists?
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Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
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Who has created the whole wide world?
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What is his name--and his son's name?
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Tell me if you know!
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5. Every word of God proves true.
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He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
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6. Do not add to his words,
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or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
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7. O God, I beg two favors from you;
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let me have them before I die.
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8. First, help me never to tell a lie.
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Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
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Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
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9. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?"
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And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.
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10. Never slander a worker to the employer,
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or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.
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11. Some people curse their father
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and do not thank their mother.
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12. They are pure in their own eyes,
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but they are filthy and unwashed.
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13. They look proudly around,
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casting disdainful glances.
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14. They have teeth like swords
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and fangs like knives.
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They devour the poor from the earth
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and the needy from among humanity.
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15. The leech has two suckers
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that cry out, "More, more!"
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There are three things that are never satisfied--
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no, four that never say, "Enough!":
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16. the grave,
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the barren womb,
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the thirsty desert,
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the blazing fire.
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17. The eye that mocks a father
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and despises a mother's instructions
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will be plucked out by ravens of the valley
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and eaten by vultures.
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18. There are three things that amaze me--
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no, four things that I don't understand:
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19. how an eagle glides through the sky,
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how a snake slithers on a rock,
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how a ship navigates the ocean,
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how a man loves a woman.
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20. An adulterous woman consumes a man,
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then wipes her mouth and says, "What's wrong with that?"
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21. There are three things that make the earth tremble--
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no, four it cannot endure:
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22. a slave who becomes a king,
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an overbearing fool who prospers,
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23. a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,
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a servant girl who supplants her mistress.
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24. There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise:
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25. Ants--they aren't strong,
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but they store up food all summer.
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26. Hyraxes--they aren't powerful,
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but they make their homes among the rocks.
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27. Locusts--they have no king,
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but they march in formation.
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28. Lizards--they are easy to catch,
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but they are found even in kings' palaces.
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29. There are three things that walk with stately stride--
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no, four that strut about:
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30. the lion, king of animals, who won't turn aside for anything,
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31. the strutting rooster,
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the male goat,
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a king as he leads his army.
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32. If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,
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cover your mouth in shame.
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33. As the beating of cream yields butter
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and striking the nose causes bleeding,
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so stirring up anger causes quarrels.
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