Proverbs 30-31 - Prayer Tents

The Sayings of Agur

30The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God.H1697H94H1121H3348H4853H1397H5002H384H384H401 2I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense.H1198H376H998H120 3I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.H3925H2451H3045H1847H6918 4Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!H5927H8064H3381H622H7307H2651H6887H4325H8071H6965H657H776H8034H1121H8034H3045 5Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.H565H433H6884H4043H2620 6Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.H3254H1697H3198H3576 7O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die.H8147H7592H4513H4191 8First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.H7368H7723H1697H3577H5414H7389H6239H2963H3899H2706 9For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.H7646H3584H559H3068H3423H1589H8610H8034H430 10Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.H3960H5650H113H7043H816 11Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother.H1755H7043H1H1288H517 12They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed.H1755H2889H5869H7364H6675 13They look proudly around, casting disdainful glances.H1755H7311H5869H6079H5375 14They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.H1755H8127H2719H4973H3979H398H6041H776H34H120 15The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied—no, four that never say, “Enough!”.H5936H8147H1323H3051H3051H7969H7646H702H559H1952 16the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.H7585H6115H7356H776H7646H4325H784H559H1952 17The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.H5869H3932H1H936H3349H517H6158H5158H5365H1121H5404H398 18There are three things that amaze me—no, four things that I don’t understand.H7969H6381H702H3045 19how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.H1870H5404H8064H1870H5175H6697H1870H591H3820H3220H1870H1397H5959 20An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”H1870H5003H802H398H4229H6310H559H6466H205 21There are three things that make the earth tremble—no, four it cannot endure.H7969H776H7264H702H3201H5375 22a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers,H5650H4427H5036H7646H3899 23a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.H8130H1166H8198H3423H1404 24There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise.H702H6996H776H2449H2450 25Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer.H5244H5971H5794H3559H3899H7019 26Hyraxes—they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks.H8227H6099H5971H7760H1004H5553 27Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation.H697H4428H3318H2686 28Lizards—they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces.H8079H8610H3027H4428H1964 29There are three things that walk with stately stride—no, four that strut about.H7969H6806H3190H702H2895H3212 30the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,H3918H1368H929H7725H6440 31the strutting rooster, the male goat, a king as he leads his army.H4975H2223H8495H176H4428H510 32If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame.H5034H5375H2161H3027H6310 33As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.H4330H2461H3318H2529H4330H639H3318H1818H4330H639H3318H7379

The Sayings of King Lemuel

31The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.H1697H4428H3927H4853H517H3256 2O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,H1248H1248H990H1248H5088 3do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.H5414H2428H802H1870H4229H4428 4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.H4428H3927H4428H8354H3196H335H176H7336H7941 5For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed.H8354H7911H2710H8138H1779H1121H6040 6Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress.H5414H7941H6H3196H4751H5315 7Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.H8354H7911H7389H2142H5999 8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.H6605H6310H483H1779H1121H2475 9Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.H6605H6310H8199H6664H1777H6041H34

A Wife of Noble Character

10Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.H4672H2428H802H4377H7350H6443 11Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.H3820H1167H982H2637H7998 12She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.H1580H2896H7451H3117H2416 13She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.H1875H6785H6593H6213H2656H3709 14She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.H5503H591H935H3899H4801 15She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.H6965H3915H5414H2964H1004H2706H5291 16She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.H2161H7704H3947H6529H3709H5193H3754 17She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.H2296H4975H5797H553H2220 18She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.H2938H5504H2896H5216H3518H3915 19Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.H7971H3027H3601H3709H8551H6418 20She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.H6566H3709H6041H7971H3027H34 21She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.H3372H7950H1004H1004H3847H8144 22She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.H6213H4765H3830H8336H713 23Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.H1167H3045H8179H3427H2205H776 24She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.H6213H5466H4376H5414H2289H3669 25She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.H5797H1926H3830H7832H3117H314 26When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.H6605H6310H2451H3956H8451H2617 27She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.H6822H1979H1979H1004H398H3899H6104 28Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her.H1121H6965H833H1167H1984 29“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”H7227H1323H6213H2428H5927 30Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.H2580H8267H3308H1892H802H3373H3068H1984 31Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.H5414H6529H3027H4639H1984H8179