The Message

<div class="version vid97 iso6393eng" data-vid="97" data-iso6393="eng">
    <div class="book bkPRO">
        <div class="chapter ch30" data-usfm="PRO.30">
            <div class="label">30</div><div class="ms1"><span class="heading">The Words of Agur Ben Yakeh</span></div><div class="s2"><span class="heading">God? Who Needs Him?</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1 v2" data-usfm="PRO.30.1+PRO.30.2"><span class="label">1-2</span><span class="content">The skeptic swore, &#8220;There is no God!</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1 v2" data-usfm="PRO.30.1+PRO.30.2"><span class="content">No God!&#8212;I can do anything I want!</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1 v2" data-usfm="PRO.30.1+PRO.30.2"><span class="content">I&#8217;m more animal than human;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1 v2" data-usfm="PRO.30.1+PRO.30.2"><span class="content">so-called human intelligence escapes me.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1 v2" data-usfm="PRO.30.1+PRO.30.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="label">3-4</span><span class="content">&#8220;I flunked &#8216;wisdom.&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">I see no evidence of a holy God.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">Has anyone ever seen Anyone</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">climb into Heaven and take charge?</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">grab the winds and control them?</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">gather the rains in his bucket?</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">stake out the ends of the earth?</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">Come on now&#8212;tell me!&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3 v4" data-usfm="PRO.30.3+PRO.30.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5 v6" data-usfm="PRO.30.5+PRO.30.6"><span class="label">5-6</span><span class="content">The believer replied, &#8220;Every promise of God proves true;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5 v6" data-usfm="PRO.30.5+PRO.30.6"><span class="content">he protects everyone who runs to him for help.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5 v6" data-usfm="PRO.30.5+PRO.30.6"><span class="content">So don&#8217;t second-guess him;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5 v6" data-usfm="PRO.30.5+PRO.30.6"><span class="content">he might take you to task and show up your lies.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5 v6" data-usfm="PRO.30.5+PRO.30.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="label">7-9</span><span class="content">And then he prayed, &#8220;God, I&#8217;m asking for two things</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">before I die; don&#8217;t refuse me&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">Banish lies from my lips</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">and liars from my presence.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">Give me enough food to live on,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">neither too much nor too little.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">If I&#8217;m too full, I might get independent,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">saying, &#8216;God? Who needs him?&#8217;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">If I&#8217;m poor, I might steal</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">and dishonor the name of my God.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="pc"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">* * *</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7 v8 v9" data-usfm="PRO.30.7+PRO.30.8+PRO.30.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.30.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Don&#8217;t blow the whistle on your fellow workers</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.30.10"><span class="content">behind their backs;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.30.10"><span class="content">They&#8217;ll accuse you of being underhanded,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.30.10"><span class="content">and then </span><span class="it"><span class="content">you&#8217;ll</span></span><span class="content"> be the guilty one!</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PRO.30.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.30.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Don&#8217;t curse your father</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.30.11"><span class="content">or fail to bless your mother.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PRO.30.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.30.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">Don&#8217;t imagine yourself to be quite presentable</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.30.12"><span class="content">when you haven&#8217;t had a bath in weeks.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="PRO.30.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.30.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Don&#8217;t be stuck-up</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.30.13"><span class="content">and think you&#8217;re better than everyone else.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="PRO.30.13"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.30.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">Don&#8217;t be greedy,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.30.14"><span class="content">merciless and cruel as wolves,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.30.14"><span class="content">Tearing into the poor and feasting on them,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.30.14"><span class="content">shredding the needy to pieces only to discard them.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="PRO.30.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="label">15-16</span><span class="content">A freeloader has twin daughters</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">named &#8220;Gimme&#8221; and &#8220;Gimme more.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Four Insatiables</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">Three things are never satisfied,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">no, there are four that never say, &#8220;That&#8217;s enough, thank you!&#8221;&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">hell,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">a barren womb,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">a parched land,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">a forest fire.</span></span></div><div class="pc"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">* * *</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v15 v16" data-usfm="PRO.30.15+PRO.30.16"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.30.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">An eye that disdains a father</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.30.17"><span class="content">and despises a mother&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.30.17"><span class="content">that eye will be plucked out by wild vultures</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.30.17"><span class="content">and consumed by young eagles.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Four Mysteries</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="PRO.30.17"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="label">18-19</span><span class="content">Three things amaze me,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="content">no, four things I&#8217;ll never understand&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="content">how an eagle flies so high in the sky,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="content">how a snake glides over a rock,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="content">how a ship navigates the ocean,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="content">why adolescents act the way they do.</span></span></div><div class="pc"><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="content">* * *</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v18 v19" data-usfm="PRO.30.18+PRO.30.19"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.30.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">Here&#8217;s how a prostitute operates:</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.30.20"><span class="content">she has sex with her client,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.30.20"><span class="content">Takes a bath,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.30.20"><span class="content">then asks, &#8220;Who&#8217;s next?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Four Intolerables</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="PRO.30.20"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v21 v22 v23" data-usfm="PRO.30.21+PRO.30.22+PRO.30.23"><span class="label">21-23</span><span class="content">Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v21 v22 v23" data-usfm="PRO.30.21+PRO.30.22+PRO.30.23"><span class="content">yes, four things shake its foundations&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v21 v22 v23" data-usfm="PRO.30.21+PRO.30.22+PRO.30.23"><span class="content">when the janitor becomes the boss,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v21 v22 v23" data-usfm="PRO.30.21+PRO.30.22+PRO.30.23"><span class="content">when a fool gets rich,</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v21 v22 v23" data-usfm="PRO.30.21+PRO.30.22+PRO.30.23"><span class="content">when a prostitute is voted &#8220;woman of the year,&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v21 v22 v23" data-usfm="PRO.30.21+PRO.30.22+PRO.30.23"><span class="content">when a &#8220;girlfriend&#8221; replaces a faithful wife.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Four Small Wonders</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v21 v22 v23" data-usfm="PRO.30.21+PRO.30.22+PRO.30.23"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="label">24-28</span><span class="content">There are four small creatures,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">wisest of the wise they are&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">ants&#8212;frail as they are,</span></span></div><div class="q4"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">get plenty of food in for the winter;</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">marmots&#8212;vulnerable as they are,</span></span></div><div class="q4"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">manage to arrange for rock-solid homes;</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">locusts&#8212;leaderless insects,</span></span></div><div class="q4"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">yet they strip the field like an army regiment;</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">lizards&#8212;easy enough to catch,</span></span></div><div class="q4"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">but they sneak past vigilant palace guards.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Four Dignitaries</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v24 v25 v26 v27 v28" data-usfm="PRO.30.24+PRO.30.25+PRO.30.26+PRO.30.27+PRO.30.28"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="label">29-31</span><span class="content">There are three solemn dignitaries,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="content">four that are impressive in their bearing&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="content">a lion, king of the beasts, deferring to none;</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="content">a rooster, proud and strutting;</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="content">a billy goat;</span></span></div><div class="q3"><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="content">a head of state in stately procession.</span></span></div><div class="pc"><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="content">* * *</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v29 v30 v31" data-usfm="PRO.30.29+PRO.30.30+PRO.30.31"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v32 v33" data-usfm="PRO.30.32+PRO.30.33"><span class="label">32-33</span><span class="content">If you&#8217;re dumb enough to call attention to yourself</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v32 v33" data-usfm="PRO.30.32+PRO.30.33"><span class="content">by offending people and making rude gestures,</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v32 v33" data-usfm="PRO.30.32+PRO.30.33"><span class="content">Don&#8217;t be surprised if someone bloodies your nose.</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v32 v33" data-usfm="PRO.30.32+PRO.30.33"><span class="content">Churned milk turns into butter;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v32 v33" data-usfm="PRO.30.32+PRO.30.33"><span class="content">riled emotions turn into fist fights.</span></span></div>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

The skeptic swore, “There is no God!
No God!—I can do anything I want!
I’m more animal than human;
so-called human intelligence escapes me.

“I flunked ‘wisdom.’
I see no evidence of a holy God.
Has anyone ever seen Anyone
climb into Heaven and take charge?
grab the winds and control them?
gather the rains in his bucket?
stake out the ends of the earth?
Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons.
Come on now—tell me!”

The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true;
he protects everyone who runs to him for help.
So don’t second-guess him;
he might take you to task and show up your lies.”

And then he prayed, “God, I’m asking for two things
before I die; don’t refuse me—
Banish lies from my lips
and liars from my presence.
Give me enough food to live on,
neither too much nor too little.
If I’m too full, I might get independent,
saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’
If I’m poor, I might steal
and dishonor the name of my God.”
* * *
Don’t blow the whistle on your fellow workers
behind their backs;
They’ll accuse you of being underhanded,
and then you’ll be the guilty one!

Don’t curse your father
or fail to bless your mother.

Don’t imagine yourself to be quite presentable
when you haven’t had a bath in weeks.

Don’t be stuck-up
and think you’re better than everyone else.

Don’t be greedy,
merciless and cruel as wolves,
Tearing into the poor and feasting on them,
shredding the needy to pieces only to discard them.

A freeloader has twin daughters
named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.”

Three things are never satisfied,
no, there are four that never say, “That’s enough, thank you!”—

hell,
a barren womb,
a parched land,
a forest fire.
* * *
An eye that disdains a father
and despises a mother—
that eye will be plucked out by wild vultures
and consumed by young eagles.

Three things amaze me,
no, four things I’ll never understand—

how an eagle flies so high in the sky,
how a snake glides over a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
why adolescents act the way they do.
* * *
Here’s how a prostitute operates:
she has sex with her client,
Takes a bath,
then asks, “Who’s next?”

Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,
yes, four things shake its foundations—

when the janitor becomes the boss,
when a fool gets rich,
when a prostitute is voted “woman of the year,”
when a “girlfriend” replaces a faithful wife.

There are four small creatures,
wisest of the wise they are—

ants—frail as they are,
get plenty of food in for the winter;
marmots—vulnerable as they are,
manage to arrange for rock-solid homes;
locusts—leaderless insects,
yet they strip the field like an army regiment;
lizards—easy enough to catch,
but they sneak past vigilant palace guards.

There are three solemn dignitaries,
four that are impressive in their bearing—

a lion, king of the beasts, deferring to none;
a rooster, proud and strutting;
a billy goat;
a head of state in stately procession.
* * *
If you’re dumb enough to call attention to yourself
by offending people and making rude gestures,
Don’t be surprised if someone bloodies your nose.
Churned milk turns into butter;
riled emotions turn into fist fights.

Listen to Proverbs 30