An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 673 words)
20:030:001 he words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man
spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
20:030:002 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the
understanding of a man.
20:030:003 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
20:030:004 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?
20:030:005 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put
their trust in him.
20:030:006 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be
found a liar.
20:030:007 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I
die:
20:030:008 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty
nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
20:030:009 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.
20:030:010 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and
thou be found guilty.
20:030:011 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not
bless their mother.
20:030:012 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet
is not washed from their filthiness.
20:030:013 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their
eyelids are lifted up.
20:030:014 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.
20:030:015 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There
are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things
say not, It is enough:
20:030:016 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled
with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
20:030:017 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.
20:030:018 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea,
four which I know not:
20:030:019 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.
20:030:020 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth
her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
20:030:021 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which
it cannot bear:
20:030:022 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled
with meat;
20:030:023 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that
is heir to her mistress.
20:030:024 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they
are exceeding wise:
20:030:025 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat
in the summer;
20:030:026 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses
in the rocks;
20:030:027 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by
bands;
20:030:028 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings'
palaces.
20:030:029 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in
going:
20:030:030 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away
for any;
20:030:031 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there
is no rising up.
20:030:032 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou
hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
20:030:033 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.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
True wisdom emerges from honest acknowledgment of limitations rather than pretending to know more than you do.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how admitting what you don't know becomes a source of strength rather than weakness.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're tempted to bluff through a situation—try saying 'I don't know that yet, but I can find out' and watch how people respond.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me"
Context: Agur's prayer for balance rather than extremes
This revolutionary request challenges our culture's assumption that more is always better. Agur recognizes that both poverty and wealth create their own temptations - poverty might lead to stealing, wealth might lead to forgetting dependence on God.
In Today's Words:
Don't let me be broke or rich - just give me enough to get by
"Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man"
Context: Opening admission of his limitations
This radical humility sets Agur apart from other wisdom teachers. By admitting his ignorance first, he creates trust and makes his insights more credible. True wisdom often begins with knowing what you don't know.
In Today's Words:
I'm probably dumber than most people and don't understand much
"There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise"
Context: Introducing his lesson about small but successful creatures
This observation challenges the assumption that size or strength determines success. Agur shows how ants, rock badgers, locusts, and spiders each succeed through different forms of wisdom rather than power.
In Today's Words:
These four small things are way smarter than they look
"If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth"
Context: Final advice about controlling yourself when you've messed up
This practical wisdom recognizes that we all act foolishly or harbor bad thoughts sometimes. The key is knowing when to stop talking and start reflecting before making things worse.
In Today's Words:
If you've been acting like an idiot or thinking bad thoughts, shut up and think about it
Thematic Threads
Humility
In This Chapter
Agur's radical honesty about his own limitations becomes the foundation for genuine wisdom
Development
Contrasts sharply with Solomon's confident pronouncements, showing wisdom can come from admitting ignorance
In Your Life:
You gain more respect at work by saying 'I don't know but I'll find out' than by pretending to have answers you don't have.
Class
In This Chapter
Agur's prayer for neither poverty nor riches reveals how both extremes corrupt character and judgment
Development
Develops earlier themes about wealth's dangers while adding insight about poverty's temptations
In Your Life:
You might notice how financial stress makes you consider shortcuts you'd normally reject, or how windfalls make you forget what really matters.
Pattern Recognition
In This Chapter
Agur identifies recurring generational types and natural mysteries through careful observation
Development
Shifts from prescriptive wisdom to descriptive pattern-mapping of human behavior
In Your Life:
You can predict workplace drama by recognizing the 'four generations' of problematic people in any organization.
Power Dynamics
In This Chapter
Warning about servants who become kings and how unprepared people handle sudden authority
Development
Builds on earlier warnings about power while focusing on preparation and readiness
In Your Life:
You've seen coworkers get promoted too fast and become impossible to work with because they weren't ready for the responsibility.
Practical Wisdom
In This Chapter
Small creatures succeed through strategy rather than strength—ants prepare, locusts organize, spiders persist
Development
Continues theme of wisdom over force while emphasizing collective action and persistence
In Your Life:
You can accomplish more through consistent small actions and smart alliances than through dramatic gestures or working alone.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Agur start by admitting he's 'more brutish than any man' and lacks understanding? What's surprising about this approach to wisdom?
analysis • surface - 2
Agur prays for 'neither poverty nor riches' but just enough to meet his needs. What pattern is he recognizing about how extremes affect human behavior?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see examples today of people who gained power or wealth before they were ready to handle it? What typically happens?
application • medium - 4
Agur studies small creatures like ants and locusts who succeed through wisdom rather than strength. How would you apply this principle in your own work or family life?
application • deep - 5
What does Agur's approach teach us about the relationship between humility and genuine learning? How does admitting limits actually create strength?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Practice Strategic Humility
Think of a current situation where you've been trying to appear confident or knowledgeable but actually feel uncertain. Write down three honest questions you could ask instead of pretending to know the answers. Then identify one area of your life where you might be pursuing 'too much' (like Agur's concern about riches) or settling for 'too little' (like his concern about poverty).
Consider:
- •Notice the difference between productive questions and defensive statements
- •Consider how asking for help might actually increase others' respect for you
- •Think about what 'just enough' looks like in your specific circumstances
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when admitting you didn't know something led to better outcomes than if you had pretended to have all the answers. What did you learn about the power of strategic humility?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 31: The Mother's Final Wisdom
The final chapter brings us the wisdom of King Lemuel's mother - a woman's perspective on leadership and what to look for in a partner. Her advice about avoiding certain temptations and recognizing true character provides a fitting conclusion to this ancient guide for navigating life's complexities.
