Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Proverbs » Chapter 30 » Verse 1-33

Proverbs 30:1-33 King James Version (KJV)

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

4 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?

5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 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.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

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

13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14 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.

15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

17 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.

18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19 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 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

33 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.


Proverbs 30:1-33 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 The words H1697 of Agur H94 the son H1121 of Jakeh, H3348 even the prophecy: H4853 the man H1397 spake H5002 unto Ithiel, H384 even unto Ithiel H384 and Ucal, H401

2 Surely I am more brutish H1198 than any man, H376 and have not the understanding H998 of a man. H120

3 I neither learned H3925 wisdom, H2451 nor have H3045 the knowledge H1847 of the holy. H6918

4 Who hath ascended up H5927 into heaven, H8064 or descended? H3381 who hath gathered H622 the wind H7307 in his fists? H2651 who hath bound H6887 the waters H4325 in a garment? H8071 who hath established H6965 all the ends H657 of the earth? H776 what is his name, H8034 and what is his son's H1121 name, H8034 if thou canst tell? H3045

5 Every word H565 of God H433 is pure: H6884 he is a shield H4043 unto them that put their trust H2620 in him.

6 Add H3254 thou not unto his words, H1697 lest he reprove H3198 thee, and thou be found a liar. H3576

7 Two H8147 things have I required H7592 of thee; deny H4513 me them not before I die: H4191

8 Remove far H7368 from me vanity H7723 and lies: H1697 H3577 give H5414 me neither poverty H7389 nor riches; H6239 feed H2963 me with food H3899 convenient H2706 for me:

9 Lest I be full, H7646 and deny H3584 thee, and say, H559 Who is the LORD? H3068 or lest I be poor, H3423 and steal, H1589 and take H8610 the name H8034 of my God H430 in vain.

10 Accuse H3960 not a servant H5650 unto his master, H113 lest he curse H7043 thee, and thou be found guilty. H816

11 There is a generation H1755 that curseth H7043 their father, H1 and doth not bless H1288 their mother. H517

12 There is a generation H1755 that are pure H2889 in their own eyes, H5869 and yet is not washed H7364 from their filthiness. H6675

13 There is a generation, H1755 O how lofty H7311 are their eyes! H5869 and their eyelids H6079 are lifted up. H5375

14 There is a generation, H1755 whose teeth H8127 are as swords, H2719 and their jaw teeth H4973 as knives, H3979 to devour H398 the poor H6041 from off the earth, H776 and the needy H34 from among men. H120

15 The horseleach H5936 hath two H8147 daughters, H1323 crying, Give, H3051 give. H3051 There are three H7969 things that are never satisfied, H7646 yea, four H702 things say H559 not, It is enough: H1952

16 The grave; H7585 and the barren H6115 womb; H7356 the earth H776 that is not filled H7646 with water; H4325 and the fire H784 that saith H559 not, It is enough. H1952

17 The eye H5869 that mocketh H3932 at his father, H1 and despiseth H936 to obey H3349 his mother, H517 the ravens H6158 of the valley H5158 shall pick it out, H5365 and the young H1121 eagles H5404 shall eat H398 it.

18 There be three H7969 things which are too wonderful H6381 for me, yea, four H702 which I know H3045 not:

19 The way H1870 of an eagle H5404 in the air; H8064 the way H1870 of a serpent H5175 upon a rock; H6697 the way H1870 of a ship H591 in the midst H3820 of the sea; H3220 and the way H1870 of a man H1397 with a maid. H5959

20 Such is the way H1870 of an adulterous H5003 woman; H802 she eateth, H398 and wipeth H4229 her mouth, H6310 and saith, H559 I have done H6466 no wickedness. H205

21 For three H7969 things the earth H776 is disquieted, H7264 and for four H702 which it cannot H3201 bear: H5375

22 For a servant H5650 when he reigneth; H4427 and a fool H5036 when he is filled H7646 with meat; H3899

23 For an odious H8130 woman when she is married; H1166 and an handmaid H8198 that is heir H3423 to her mistress. H1404

24 There be four H702 things which are little H6996 upon the earth, H776 but they are exceeding H2449 wise: H2450

25 The ants H5244 are a people H5971 not strong, H5794 yet they prepare H3559 their meat H3899 in the summer; H7019

26 The conies H8227 are but a feeble H6099 folk, H5971 yet make H7760 they their houses H1004 in the rocks; H5553

27 The locusts H697 have no king, H4428 yet go they forth H3318 all of them by bands; H2686

28 The spider H8079 taketh hold H8610 with her hands, H3027 and is in kings' H4428 palaces. H1964

29 There be three H7969 things which go H6806 well, H3190 yea, four H702 are comely H2895 in going: H3212

30 A lion H3918 which is strongest H1368 among beasts, H929 and turneth not away H7725 for H6440 any;

31 A greyhound; H4975 H2223 an he goat H8495 also; H176 and a king, H4428 against whom there is no rising up. H510

32 If thou hast done foolishly H5034 in lifting up H5375 thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, H2161 lay thine hand H3027 upon thy mouth. H6310

33 Surely the churning H4330 of milk H2461 bringeth forth H3318 butter, H2529 and the wringing H4330 of the nose H639 bringeth forth H3318 blood: H1818 so the forcing H4330 of wrath H639 bringeth forth H3318 strife. H7379


Proverbs 30:1-33 American Standard (ASV)

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; The oracle. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man;

3 And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?

5 Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7 Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me `them' not before I die:

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me:

9 Lest I be full, and deny `thee', and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.

10 Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

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

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

13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.

14 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.

15 The horseleach hath two daughters, `crying', Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, `Yea', four that say not, Enough:

16 Sheol; and the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that saith not, Enough.

17 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.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not:

19 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 maiden.

20 So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness.

21 For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, `which' it cannot bear:

22 For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;

23 For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 The lizard taketh hold with her hands, Yet is she in kings' palaces.

29 There are three things which are stately in their march, Yea, four which are stately in going:

30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And turneth not away for any;

31 The greyhound; the he-goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, Or if thou hast thought evil, `Lay' thy hand upon thy mouth.

33 For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.


Proverbs 30:1-33 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Words of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man: -- I have wearied myself `for' God, I have wearied myself `for' God, and am consumed.

2 For I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man.

3 Nor have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know.

4 Who went up to heaven, and cometh down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound waters in a garment? Who established all ends of the earth? What `is' His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest!

5 Every saying of God `is' tried, A shield He `is' to those trusting in Him.

6 Add not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false.

7 Two things I have asked from Thee, Withhold not from me before I die.

8 Vanity and a lying word put far from me, Poverty or wealth give not to me, Cause me to eat the bread of my portion,

9 Lest I become satiated, and have denied, And have said, `Who `is' Jehovah?' And lest I be poor, and have stolen, And have laid hold of the name of my God.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 A generation `is', that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless.

12 A generation -- pure in their own eyes, But from their own filth not washed.

13 A generation -- how high are their eyes, Yea, their eyelids are lifted up.

14 A generation -- swords `are' their teeth, And knives -- their jaw-teeth, To consume the poor from earth, And the needy from `among' men.

15 To the leech `are' two daughters, `Give, give, Lo, three things are not satisfied, Four have not said `Sufficiency;'

16 Sheol, and a restrained womb, Earth -- it `is' not satisfied `with' water, And fire -- it hath not said, `Sufficiency,'

17 An eye that mocketh at a father, And despiseth to obey a mother, Dig it out do ravens of the valley, And eat it do young eagles.

18 Three things have been too wonderful for me, Yea, four that I have not known:

19 The way of the eagle in the heavens, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the heart of the sea, And the way of a man in youth.

20 So -- the way of an adulterous woman, She hath eaten and hath wiped her mouth, And hath said, `I have not done iniquity.'

21 For three things hath earth been troubled, And for four -- it is not able to bear:

22 For a servant when he reigneth, And a fool when he is satisfied with bread,

23 For a hated one when she ruleth, And a maid-servant when she succeedeth her mistress.

24 Four `are' little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:

25 The ants `are' a people not strong, And they prepare in summer their food,

26 Conies `are' a people not strong, And they place in a rock their house,

27 A king there is not to the locust, And it goeth out -- each one shouting,

28 A spider with two hands taketh hold, And is in the palaces of a king.

29 Three there are going well, Yea, four are good in going:

30 An old lion -- mighty among beasts, That turneth not back from the face of any,

31 A girt one of the loins, or a he-goat, And a king -- no rising up with him.

32 If thou hast been foolish in lifting up thyself, And if thou hast devised evil -- hand to mouth!

33 For the churning of milk bringeth out butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth out blood, And the forcing of anger bringeth out strife!


Proverbs 30:1-33 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the prophecy uttered by the man unto Ithiel, [even] unto Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Truly *I* am more stupid than any one; and I have not a man's intelligence.

3 I have neither learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy.

4 Who hath ascended up into the heavens, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a mantle? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?

5 Every word of +God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7 Two things do I ask of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread of my daily need:

9 lest I be full and deny [thee], and say, Who is Jehovah? or lest I be poor and steal, and outrage the name of my God.

10 Speak not too much about a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother;

12 there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness;

13 there is a generation, -- how lofty are their eyes, how their eyelids are lifted up!

14 -- a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jaw-teeth knives, to devour the afflicted from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men.

15 The leech hath two daughters: Give, give. There are three [things] never satisfied; four which say not, It is enough:

16 -- Sheol, and the barren womb; the earth which is not filled with water, and the fire which saith not, It is enough.

17 The eye that mocketh at a father, and despiseth to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 There are three [things] too wonderful for me, and four that I know not:

19 The way of an eagle in the heavens, 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 Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21 Under three [things] the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up:

22 Under a servant when he reigneth, and a churl when he is filled with meat;

23 under an odious [woman] when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress.

24 There are four [things] little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise:

25 The ants, a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;

26 the rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their house in the cliff;

27 the locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands;

28 thou takest hold of the lizard with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces.

29 There are three [things] which have a stately step, and four are comely in going:

30 The lion, mighty among beasts, which turneth not away for any;

31 a [horse] girt in the loins; or the he-goat; and a king, against whom none can rise up.

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] the hand upon thy mouth.

33 For the pressing of milk bringeth forth butter, and the pressing of the nose bringeth forth blood; and the pressing of anger bringeth forth strife.


Proverbs 30:1-33 World English Bible (WEB)

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle: The man says to Ithiel, To Ithiel and Ucal:

2 "Surely I am the most ignorant man, And don't have a man's understanding.

3 I have not learned wisdom, Neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound 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?

5 "Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6 Don't you add to his words, Lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

7 "Two things I have asked of you; Don't deny me before I die:

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;

9 Lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is Yahweh?' Or lest I be poor, and steal, And so dishonor the name of my God.

10 "Don't slander a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

11 There is a generation that curses their father, And doesn't bless their mother.

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

13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And their jaws like knives, To devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

15 "The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; Four that don't say, 'Enough:'

16 Sheol, The barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that doesn't say, 'Enough.'

17 The eye that mocks at his father, And scorns obedience to his mother: The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, The young eagles shall eat it.

18 "There are three things which are too amazing for me, Four which I don't understand:

19 The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent on a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.

20 So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'

21 "For three things the earth tremble, And under four, it can't bear up:

22 For a servant when he is king; A fool when he is filled with food;

23 For an unloved woman when she is married; And a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.

24 "There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

25 The ants are not a strong people, Yet they provide their food in the summer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, Yet they advance in ranks;

28 You can catch a lizard with your hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.

29 "There are three things which are stately in their march, Four which are stately in going:

30 The lion, which is mightiest among animals, And doesn't turn away for any;

31 The greyhound, The male goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.

32 "If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, Or if you have thought evil, Put your hand over your mouth.

33 For as the churning of milk brings forth butter, And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; So the forcing of wrath brings forth strife."


Proverbs 30:1-33 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh, from Massa. The man says: I am full of weariness, O God, I am full of weariness; O God, I have come to an end:

2 For I am more like a beast than any man, I have no power of reasoning like a man:

3 I have not got wisdom by teaching, so that I might have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? who has taken the winds in his hands, prisoning the waters in his robe? by whom have all the ends of the earth been fixed? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if you are able to say?

5 Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to those who put their faith in him.

6 Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear your error, and you will be seen to be false.

7 I have made request to you for two things; do not keep them from me before my death:

8 Put far from me all false and foolish things: do not give me great wealth or let me be in need, but give me only enough food:

9 For fear that if I am full, I may be false to you and say, Who is the Lord? or if I am poor, I may become a thief, using the name of my God wrongly.

10 Do not say evil of a servant to his master, or he will put a curse on you, and you will get into trouble.

11 There is a generation who put a curse on their father, and do not give a blessing to their mother.

12 There is a generation who seem to themselves to be free from sin, but are not washed from their unclean ways.

13 There is a generation, O how full of pride are their eyes! O how their brows are lifted up!

14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, their strong teeth like knives, for the destruction of the poor from the earth, and of those who are in need from among men.

15 The night-spirit has two daughters, Give, give. There are three things which are never full, even four which never say, Enough:

16 The underworld, and the woman without a child; the earth which never has enough water, and the fire which never says, Enough.

17 The eye which makes sport of a father, and sees no value in a mother when she is old will be rooted out by the ravens of the valley, and be food for the young eagles.

18 There are three things, the wonder of which overcomes me, even four things outside my knowledge:

19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a girl.

20 This is the way of a false wife; she takes food, and, cleaning her mouth, says, I have done no wrong.

21 For three things the earth is moved, and there are four which it will not put up with:

22 A servant when he becomes a king; a man without sense when his wealth is increased;

23 A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl who takes the place of her master's wife.

24 There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are very wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, but they put by a store of food in the summer;

26 The conies are only a feeble people, but they make their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, but they all go out in bands;

28 You may take the lizard in your hands, but it is in kings' houses.

29 There are three things whose steps are good to see, even four whose goings are fair:

30 The lion, which is strongest among beasts, not turning from his way for any;

31 The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his army is with him.

32 If you have done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you have had evil designs, put your hand over your mouth.

33 The shaking of milk makes butter, and the twisting of the nose makes blood come: so the forcing of wrath is a cause of fighting.

Commentary on Proverbs 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 30

Pr 30:1-33.

1. This is the title of this chapter (see Introduction).

the prophecy—literally, "the burden" (compare Isa 13:1; Zec 9:1), used for any divine instruction; not necessarily a prediction, which was only a kind of prophecy (1Ch 15:27, "a song"). Prophets were inspired men, who spoke for God to man, or for man to God (Ge 20:7; Ex 7:14, 15, 16). Such, also, were the New Testament prophets. In a general sense, Gad, Nathan, and others were such, who were divine teachers, though we do not learn that they ever predicted.

the man spake—literally, "the saying of the man"; an expression used to denote any solemn and important announcement (compare 2Sa 23:1; Ps 36:1; 110:1; Isa 1:24, &c.). Ithiel and Ucal were perhaps pupils.

2-4. brutish—stupid, a strong term to denote his lowly self-estimation; or he may speak of such as his natural condition, as contrasted with God's all-seeing comprehensive knowledge and almighty power. The questions of this clause emphatically deny the attributes mentioned to be those of any creature, thus impressively strengthening the implied reference of the former to God (compare De 30:12-14; Isa 40:12; Eph 4:8).

5. (Compare Ps 12:6; 119:140).

6. Add … words—implying that his sole reliance was on God's all-sufficient teaching.

reprove thee—or, "convict thee"—and so the falsehood will appear.

7-9. A prayer for exemption from wickedness, and the extremes of poverty and riches, the two things mentioned. Contentment is implied as desired.

8. vanity—all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).

9. be full … deny—that is, puffed up by the pride of prosperity.

take the name … vain—This is not (Hebrew) the form (compare Ex 20:7), but "take" rather denotes laying violent hold on any thing; that is, lest I assail God's name or attributes, as justice, mercy, &c., which the poor are tempted to do.

10. Accuse not—Slander not (Ps 10:7).

curse … guilty—lest, however lowly, he be exasperated to turn on thee, and your guilt be made to appear.

11-14. Four kinds of hateful persons—(1) graceless children, (2) hypocrites, (3) the proud, (4) cruel oppressors (compare on Pr 30:14; Ps 14:4; 52:2)—are now illustrated; (1) Pr 30:15, 16, the insatiability of prodigal children and their fate; (2) Pr 30:17, hypocrisy, or the concealment of real character; (3 and 4) Pr 30:18-20, various examples of pride and oppression.

15, 16. horse leech—supposed by some to be the vampire (a fabulous creature), as being literally insatiable; but the other subjects mentioned must be taken as this, comparatively insatiable. The use of a fabulous creature agreeably to popular notions is not inconsistent with inspiration.

There are three … yea, four—(Compare Pr 6:16).

17. The eye—for the person, with reference to the use of the organ to express mockery and contempt, and also as that by which punishment is received.

the ravens … eagles … eat—either as dying unnaturally, or being left unburied, or both.

18-20. Hypocrisy is illustrated by four examples of the concealment of all methods or traces of action, and a pertinent example of double dealing in actual vice is added, that is, the adulterous woman.

20. she eateth … mouth—that is, she hides the evidences of her shame and professes innocence.

21-23. Pride and cruelty, the undue exaltation of those unfit to hold power, produce those vices which disquiet society (compare Pr 19:10; 28:3).

23. heir … mistress—that is, takes her place as a wife (Ge 16:4).

24-31. These verses provide two classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world, which the reader is left to apply. By the first (Pr 30:25-28), diligence and providence are commended; the success of these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity and activity, rather than strength. The other class (Pr 30:30, 31) provides similes for whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.

26. conies—mountain mice, or rabbits.

28. spider—tolerated, even in palaces, to destroy flies.

taketh … hands—or, uses with activity the limbs provided for taking prey.

32. As none can hope, successfully, to resist such a king, suppress even the thought of an attempt.

lay … hand upon thy mouth—"lay" is well supplied (Jud 18:19; Job 29:9; 40:4).

33. That is, strife—or other ills, as surely arise from devising evil as natural effects from natural causes.