1The 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: 2For I am more like a beast than any man, I have no power of reasoning like a man: 3I have not got wisdom by teaching, so that I might have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4Who 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? 5Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to those who put their faith in him. 6Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear your error, and you will be seen to be false. 7I have made request to you for two things; do not keep them from me before my death: 8Put 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: 9For 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. 10Do not say evil of a servant to his master, or he will put a curse on you, and you will get into trouble. 11There is a generation who put a curse on their father, and do not give a blessing to their mother. 12There is a generation who seem to themselves to be free from sin, but are not washed from their unclean ways. 13There is a generation, O how full of pride are their eyes! O how their brows are lifted up! 14There 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. 15The night-spirit has two daughters, Give, give. There are three things which are never full, even four which never say, Enough: 16The underworld, and the woman without a child; the earth which never has enough water, and the fire which never says, Enough. 17The 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. 18There are three things, the wonder of which overcomes me, even four things outside my knowledge: 19The 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. 20This is the way of a false wife; she takes food, and, cleaning her mouth, says, I have done no wrong. 21For three things the earth is moved, and there are four which it will not put up with: 22A servant when he becomes a king; a man without sense when his wealth is increased; 23A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl who takes the place of her master's wife. 24There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are very wise: 25The ants are a people not strong, but they put by a store of food in the summer; 26The conies are only a feeble people, but they make their houses in the rocks; 27The locusts have no king, but they all go out in bands; 28You may take the lizard in your hands, but it is in kings' houses. 29There are three things whose steps are good to see, even four whose goings are fair: 30The lion, which is strongest among beasts, not turning from his way for any; 31The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his army is with him. 32If you have done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you have had evil designs, put your hand over your mouth. 33The shaking of milk makes butter, and the twisting of the nose makes blood come: so the forcing of wrath is a cause of fighting.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
1-6 Agur speaks of himself as wanting a righteousness, and having done very foolishly. And it becomes us all to have low thoughts of ourselves. He speaks of himself as wanting revelation to guide him in the ways of truth and wisdom. The more enlightened people are, the more they lament their ignorance; the more they pray for clearer, still clearer discoveries of God, and his rich grace in Christ Jesus. In ver. 4|, there is a prophetic notice of Him who came down from heaven to be our Instructor and Saviour, and then ascended into heaven to be our Advocate. The Messiah is here spoken of as a Person distinct from the Father, but his name as yet secret. The great Redeemer, in the glories of his providence and grace, cannot be found out to perfection. Had it not been for Christ, the foundations of the earth had sunk under the load of the curse upon the ground, for man's sin. Who, and what is the mighty One that doeth all this? There is not the least ground to suspect anything wanting in the word of God; adding to his words opens the way to errors and corruptions. 7-9 Agur wisely prayed for a middle state, that he might be kept at a distance from temptations; he asked daily bread suited to his station, his family, and his real good. There is a remarkable similarity between this prayer and several clauses of the Lord's prayer. If we are removed from vanity and lies; if we are interested in the pardoning love of Christ, and have him for our portion; if we walk with God, then we shall have all we can ask or think, as to spiritual things. When we consider how those who have abundance are prone to abuse the gift, and what it is to suffer want, Agur's prayer will ever be found a wise one, though seldom offered. Food convenient; what is so for one, may not be so for another; but we may be sure that our heavenly Father will supply all our need, and not suffer us to want anything good for us; and why should we wish for more? 10 Slander not a servant to his master, accuse him not in small matters, to make mischief. #11-14|. In every age there are monsters of ingratitude who ill-treat their parents. Many persuade themselves they are holy persons, whose hearts are full of sin, and who practise secret wickedness. There are others whose lofty pride is manifest. There have also been cruel monsters in every age. #15-17|. Cruelty and covetousness are two daughters of the horseleech, that still cry, "Give, give," and they are continually uneasy to themselves. Four things never are satisfied, to which these devourers are compared. Those are never rich that are always coveting. And many who have come to a bad end, have owned that their wicked courses began by despising their parents' authority. #18-20|. Four things cannot be fully known. The kingdom of nature is full of marvels. The fourth is a mystery of iniquity; the cursed arts by which a vile seducer gains the affections of a female; and the arts which a vile woman uses to conceal her wickedness. #21-23| Four sorts of persons are very troublesome. Men of low origin and base spirit, who, getting authority, become tyrants. Foolish and violent men indulging in excesses. A woman of a contentious spirit and vicious habits. A servant who has obtained undue influence. Let those whom Providence has advanced from low beginnings, carefully watch against that sin which most easily besets them. 24-28|. Four things that are little, are yet to be admired. There are those who are poor in the world, and of small account, yet wise for their souls and another world. #29-33|. We may learn from animals to go well; also to keep our temper under all provocations. We must keep the evil thought in our minds from breaking out into evil speeches. We must not stir up the passions of others. Let nothing be said or done with violence, but every thing with softness and calmness. Alas, how often have we done foolishly in rising up against the Lord our King! Let us humble ourselves before him. And having found peace with Him, let us follow peace with all men.