Proverbs 30-31
King James Version (KJV)
30Â The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2Â Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
3Â I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4Â Who 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?
5Â Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6Â Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7Â Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
8Â Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9Â Lest 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.
10Â Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11Â There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12Â There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13Â There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14Â There 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.
15Â The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16Â The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17Â The 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.
18Â There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19Â The 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.
20Â Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21Â For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
22Â For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23Â For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24Â There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25Â The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26Â The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27Â The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28Â The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
29Â There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30Â A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31Â A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
32Â If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33Â Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
31Â The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2Â What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3Â Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4Â It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5Â Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6Â Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7Â Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8Â Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9Â Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10Â Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11Â The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12Â She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13Â She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14Â She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15Â She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16Â She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17Â She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18Â She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19Â She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20Â She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21Â She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22Â She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Â Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24Â She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Â Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26Â She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27Â She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Â Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Â Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Â Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31Â Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Psalm 127
127Â Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2Â It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3Â Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4Â As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5Â Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.