He who hardens his neck after being often reproved
Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

Whoever loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his substance.

The king by justice establishes the land,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

A man who flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his steps.

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare,
But the righteous man sings and rejoices.

The righteous man knows the rights of the poor;
The wicked man has no understanding of such knowledge.

Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,
The fool is either angry or laughs, and there is no rest.

The bloodthirsty hate one who is perfect,
And they seek the life of the upright.

A fool utters all his anger,
But a wise man holds it back.

If a ruler pays attention to a false word,
All his servants are wicked.

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
Jehovah gives light to the eyes of them both.

If a king judges the poor in truth,
His throne will be established forever.

The rod and reproof give wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

When the wicked increase, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their fall.

Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
He will also give delight to your soul.

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law.

A servant will not be corrected by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

He who delicately brings up his servant from a child
Will have him as a son in the end.

An angry man stirs up contention,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.

A man's pride will bring him low,
But he who is of a lowly spirit will obtain honor.

Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul;
He hears the adjuration and utters nothing.

The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever puts his trust in Jehovah will be  ¹exalted.

Many seek the ruler's favor,
But justice for man comes from Jehovah.

An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked man.

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh. The oracle.
The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And do not have a man's understanding;

And I have not learned wisdom,
Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?

Every word of God is tried;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Do not add to His words,
Lest He reprove you and you be found a liar.

Two things I have asked of You;
Do not refuse me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and lies.
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,

Lest I become full and deny You and say, Who is Jehovah?
Or lest I become poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Do not slander a servant to his master,
Lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

There is a generation that curse their father,
And do not bless their mother.

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes,
And yet are not washed from their filthiness.

There is a generation — oh how lofty are their eyes,
And their eyelids are raised arrogantly.

There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And their jaw teeth like knives,
To devour the afflicted from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.

The leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give.
There are three things that are never satisfied,
Indeed, four that do not say, Enough:

Sheol and the barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water,
And the fire that does not say, Enough.

The eye that mocks his father
And despises to obey his mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.

There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Indeed four which I do not know:

The way of an eagle in the sky,
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 maiden.

This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth
And says, I have done no wickedness.

Under three things the earth quakes,
And under four, it cannot bear up:

Under a servant when he is king,
And a fool when he is filled with food;

Under a hated woman when she gets married,
And a servant girl who is heir to her mistress.

Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

The ants are a clan without strength,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

The rock badgers are a clan without might,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

The swarming locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in ranks;

The lizard can be grasped with the hands,
Yet she is in kings' palaces.

There are three things which are stately in their step,
Indeed four which are stately in walking:

The lion, which is mightiest among beasts,
And does not turn back before any;

The strutting cock girded in the loins, or a male goat,
And a king who has a band of soldiers with him.

If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have thought an evil scheme,
Put your hand upon your mouth.

For the churning of milk produces butter,
And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood,
So the pressing of wrath brings forth strife.

The words of King Lemuel. The oracle which his mother taught him.

What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?

Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?

Lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink rather to one who is perishing,
And wine to the bitter in soul;

Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

Open your mouth for the dumb,
And for the rights of all those who are passing away.

Open your mouth; judge righteously,
And minister justice to the poor and needy.

Who can find a worthy woman?
For her price is far above corals.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,
And delights to work with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.

She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household,
And their task to her serving girls.

She considers a field and buys it;
With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She girds her loins with strength
And makes strong her arms.

She samples her merchandise to be sure it is good;
Her lamp does not go out by night.

She lays her hands to the distaff,
And her hands hold on to the spindle.

She stretches out her hand to the afflicted,
And she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She does not fear for her household when it snows,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them
And delivers girdles to the merchant.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she happily looks forward to the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And the  ¹law of kindness is on her tongue.

She watches closely over the ways of her household
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

Many daughters have done worthily,
But you surpass them all.

Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman who fears Jehovah, she will be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.