Agur’s words: humility, God’s pure word, and wise living

30:1 The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle: This man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal: 30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding; 30:3 I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One. 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? – if you know! 30:5 Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him. 30:6 Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar. 30:7 Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die: 30:8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread, 30:9 lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God. 30:10 Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you are found guilty. 30:11 There is a generation who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. 30:12 There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness. 30:13 There is a generation whose eyes are so lofty, and whose eyelids are lifted up disdainfully. 30:14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords and whose molars are like knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among the human race. 30:15 The leech has two daughters: “Give! Give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough” – 30:16 the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough!” 30:17 The eye that mocks at a father and despises obeying a mother – the ravens of the valley will peck it out and the young vultures will eat it. 30:18 There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand: 30:19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a woman. 30:20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have not done wrong.” 30:21 Under three things the earth trembles, and under four things it cannot bear up: 30:22 under a servant who becomes king, under a fool who is stuffed with food, 30:23 under an unloved woman who is married, and under a female servant who dispossesses her mistress. 30:24 There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise: 30:25 ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer; 30:26 rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags; 30:27 locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks; 30:28 a lizard you can catch with the hand, but it gets into the palaces of the king. 30:29 There are three things that are magnificent in their step, four things that move about magnificently: 30:30 a lion, mightiest of the beasts, who does not retreat from anything; 30:31 a strutting rooster, a male goat, and a king with his army around him. 30:32 If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth! 30:33 For as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Agur begins by confessing his smallness before God. He says God’s word is pure and must not be altered. He then prays for truth and for enough bread, not riches or poverty. The rest of the chapter warns against pride, greed, dishonor, deceit, adultery, and anger, while praising humble wisdom seen in small creatures and steady conduct.

Agur speaks like a wise teacher who knows that human understanding is limited. He does not boast in himself. He points to the Lord as the One who rules creation and whose word is completely trustworthy. Because God’s word is pure, people must not add to it or try to improve it.

Agur’s prayer is simple and wise. He asks to be kept from lies. He also asks for neither poverty nor riches, but his daily portion. He knows that too much can lead to pride and denial of the Lord, while too little can lead to stealing and shame.

The chapter then gives a series of sharp observations about sinful people and foolish behavior. It warns against slander, dishonoring parents, false self-righteousness, greed, and oppression of the poor. It also exposes adultery, disorder, and self-exaltation. At the same time, it praises the wisdom seen in ants, rock badgers, locusts, and other creatures that act with discipline and purpose.

The closing warning is direct. If a person has acted foolishly by exalting himself or planning evil, he must stop. Pride and anger do not stay small. They lead to strife.

• Human wisdom is limited, and true understanding begins with reverence before God.
• God’s word is pure, reliable, and must not be added to by human beings.
• Contentment is wise because both wealth and poverty can tempt the heart into sin.
• Pride, deceit, greed, injustice, dishonor, and anger all lead to harm.
• Small creatures can teach wisdom through preparation, order, and discipline.

• Do not add to God’s words.
• Keep falsehood and lies far from you.
• Do not seek either poverty or riches as your portion.
• Do not slander a servant to his master.
• Do not despise or dishonor your parents.
• If you have exalted yourself or planned evil, put your hand over your mouth.
• Stirring up anger produces strife.

This passage fits the wisdom tradition under the covenant life of Israel. It calls God’s people to fear the Lord, trust his word, and live with humility, truthfulness, and restraint. In the fuller canon, the call to depend on God’s pure word prepares readers to look for the One who perfectly reveals God and lives without pride or deceit.

Believers should receive God’s word as final and trustworthy. They should ask God for truthful speech and daily provision, not for the love of wealth. They should avoid pride, gossip, dishonor, sexual sin, and anger. They should also learn from ordinary examples of wise, disciplined living.

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