The Sayings of Agur
1These sayings are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. These sayings came from God.
This man said to Ithiel:
“I am weary, God.
But I can still have success.
2Surely I am only a dumb animal and not a man.
I don’t understand as other men do.
3I haven’t learned wisdom.
And I don’t know the things the Holy One knows.
4Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a coat?
Who has set in place all the boundaries of the earth?
What is his name? What is his son’s name?
Surely you know!
5“Every word of God is perfect.
He is like a shield to those who trust in him.
He keeps them safe.
6Don’t add to his words.
If you do, he will correct you.
He will prove that you are a liar.
7“Lord, I ask you for two things.
Don’t refuse me before I die.
8Keep lies far away from me.
Don’t make me either poor or rich,
but give me only the bread I need each day.
9If you don’t, I might have too much.
Then I might say I don’t know you.
I might say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I might become poor and steal.
Then I would bring shame to the name of my God.
10“Don’t tell lies about a servant when you talk to their master.
If you do, they will curse you, and you will pay for your lies.
11“Some people curse their fathers.
Others don’t bless their mothers.
12Some are pure in their own eyes.
But their dirty sins haven’t been washed away.
13Some have eyes that are very proud.
They look down on others.
14Some people have teeth like swords.
The teeth in their jaws are as sharp as knives.
They are ready to eat up the poor people of the earth.
They are ready to eat up those who are the most needy.
15“A leech has two daughters.
They cry out, ‘Give! Give!’
“Three things are never satisfied.
Four things never say, ‘Enough!’
16The first is the grave.
The second is a woman who can’t have a baby.
The third is land, which never gets enough water.
And the fourth is fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
17“One person makes fun of their father.
Another doesn’t honor their mother when she is old.
The ravens of the valley will peck out their eyes.
Then the vultures will eat them.
18“Three things are too amazing for me.
There are four things I don’t understand.
19The first is the way of an eagle in the sky.
The second is the way of a snake on a rock.
The third is the way of a ship on the ocean.
And the fourth is the way of a man with a young woman.
20“This is the way of a woman who commits adultery.
She eats and wipes her mouth.
Then she says, ‘I haven’t done anything wrong.’
21“Under three things the earth shakes.
Under four things it can’t stand up.
22The first is a servant who becomes a king.
The second is a foolish and ungodly person who gets plenty to eat.
23The third is a mean woman who gets married.
And the fourth is a servant who takes the place of the woman she works for.
24“Four things on earth are small.
But they are very wise.
25The first are ants, which aren’t very strong.
But they store up their food in the summer.
26The second are hyraxes, which aren’t very powerful.
But they make their home among the rocks.
27The third are locusts, which don’t have a king.
But they all march forward in ranks.
28And the fourth are lizards, which your hand can catch.
But you will find them in kings’ palaces.
29“Three things walk as if they were kings.
Four things move as kings do.
30The first is a lion, which is mighty among the animals. It doesn’t back away from anything.
31The second is a rooster, which walks proudly.
The third is a billy goat.
And the fourth is a king, who is secure against any who might oppose him.
32“Do you do foolish things?
Do you think you are better than others?
Do you plan evil?
If you do, put your hand over your mouth and stop talking!
33If you churn cream, you will produce butter.
If you twist a nose, you will produce blood.
And if you stir up anger, you will produce a fight.”
Dichos de Agur
1Dichos de Agur, hijo de Jaqué. Mensaje.30:1 hijo de Jaqué. Mensaje. Alt. hijo de Jaqué de Masa.
Palabras de este varón:
«Cansado estoy, oh Dios;
cansado estoy, oh Dios, y débil.30:1 Cansado … y débil. Alt. A Itiel, a Itiel y a Ucal.
2Soy el más ignorante de todos los hombres;
no hay en mí discernimiento humano.
3No he adquirido sabiduría
ni tengo conocimiento del Dios Santo.
4¿Quién ha subido a los cielos
y descendido de ellos?
¿Quién puede atrapar el viento en sus manos
o envolver el mar en su manto?
¿Quién ha establecido los límites de la tierra?
¿Quién conoce su nombre o el de su hijo?
Seguramente tú lo sabes.
5»Toda palabra de Dios es purificada;
Dios es escudo a los que en él buscan refugio.
6No añadas nada a sus palabras,
no sea que te reprenda y te exponga como a un mentiroso.
7»Solo dos cosas te pido, Dios;
no me las niegues antes de que muera:
8Aleja de mí la falsedad y la mentira;
no me des pobreza ni riquezas,
sino solo el pan de cada día.
9Porque teniendo mucho, podría desconocerte
y decir: “¿Y quién es el Señor?”.
Y teniendo poco, podría llegar a robar
y deshonrar así el nombre de mi Dios.
10»No ofendas al esclavo delante de su amo,
pues podría maldecirte y sufrirías las consecuencias.
11»Hay quienes maldicen a su padre
y no bendicen a su madre.
12Hay quienes se creen muy puros,
pero no se han purificado de su impureza.
13Hay quienes se creen muy importantes
y a todos miran con desdén.
14Hay quienes tienen espadas por dientes
y cuchillos por mandíbulas;
para devorar a los pobres de la tierra
y a los menesterosos de este mundo.
15»La sanguijuela tiene dos hijas
que solo dicen: “Dame, dame”.
»Tres cosas hay que nunca se sacian
y una cuarta que nunca dice “¡Basta!”:
16el sepulcro,30:16 sepulcro. Lit. Seol.
el vientre estéril,
la tierra, que nunca se sacia de agua,
y el fuego, que nunca dice “¡Basta!”.
17»Al que mira con desdén a su padre
y desprecia a su anciana madre,
que los cuervos del valle le saquen los ojos
y que se lo coman los buitres.
18»Tres cosas hay que me causan asombro
y una cuarta que no alcanzo a comprender:
19el rastro del águila en el cielo,
el rastro de la serpiente en la roca,
el rastro del barco en alta mar
y el rastro del hombre en la mujer joven.
20»Así procede la adúltera:
come, se limpia la boca
y afirma: “Nada malo he cometido”.
21»Tres cosas hacen temblar la tierra
y una cuarta la hace estremecer:
22el siervo que llega a ser rey,
el necio al que le sobra comida,
23la mujer rechazada que llega a casarse
y la criada que suplanta a su señora.
24»Cuatro cosas hay pequeñas en el mundo,
pero que son más sabias que los sabios:
25las hormigas, animalitos de escasas fuerzas,
pero que almacenan su comida en el verano;
26los tejones, animalitos de poca monta,
pero que construyen su casa entre las rocas;
27las langostas, que no tienen rey,
pero que avanzan en formación perfecta;
28las lagartijas, que se atrapan con la mano,
pero habitan hasta en los palacios de reyes.
29»Tres cosas hay que caminan con elegancia
y una cuarta de paso imponente:
30el león, poderoso entre las bestias, que no retrocede ante nada;
31el gallo altivo,30:31 el gallo altivo. Lit. el apretado de hombros.
el macho cabrío
y el rey al frente de su ejército.30:31 el rey … ejército. Alt. el rey contra quien su pueblo no se subleva.
32»Si como un necio te has engreído
o si algo maquinas, ponte a pensar30:32 ponte a pensar. Lit. mano a la boca.
33que batiendo la leche se obtiene mantequilla,
que sonándose fuerte sangra la nariz
y que provocando la ira se acaba peleando».
