from Biblica1These sayings are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. These sayings came from God. This man said to Ithiel: ‘I am weary, God. But I can still have success.2Surely I am only a dumb animal and not a man. I don’t understand as other men do.3I haven’t learned wisdom. And I don’t know the things the Holy One knows.4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a coat? Who has set in place all the boundaries of the earth? What is his name? What is his son’s name? Surely you know!5‘Every word of God is perfect. He is like a shield to those who trust in him. He keeps them safe.6Don’t add to his words. If you do, he will correct you. He will prove that you are a liar.7‘LORD, I ask you for two things. Don’t refuse me before I die.8Keep lies far away from me. Don’t make me either poor or rich, but give me only the bread I need each day.9If you don’t, I might have too much. Then I might say I don’t know you. I might say, “Who is the LORD?” Or I might become poor and steal. Then I would bring shame to the name of my God.10‘Don’t tell lies about a servant when you talk to their master. If you do, they will curse you, and you will pay for your lies.11‘Some people curse their fathers. Others don’t bless their mothers.12Some are pure in their own eyes. But their dirty sins haven’t been washed away.13Some have eyes that are very proud. They look down on others.14Some people have teeth like swords. The teeth in their jaws are as sharp as knives. They are ready to eat up the poor people of the earth. They are ready to eat up those who are the most needy.15‘A leech has two daughters. They cry out, “Give! Give!” ‘Three things are never satisfied. Four things never say, “Enough!”16The first is the grave. The second is a woman who can’t have a baby. The third is land, which never gets enough water. And the fourth is fire, which never says, “Enough!”17‘One person makes fun of their father. Another doesn’t honour their mother when she is old. The ravens of the valley will peck out their eyes. Then the vultures will eat them.18‘Three things are too amazing for me. There are four things I don’t understand.19The first is the way of an eagle in the sky. The second is the way of a snake on a rock. The third is the way of a ship on the ocean. And the fourth is the way of a man with a young woman.20‘This is the way of a woman who commits adultery. She eats and wipes her mouth. Then she says, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”21‘Under three things the earth shakes. Under four things it can’t stand up.22The first is a servant who becomes a king. The second is a foolish and ungodly person who gets plenty to eat.23The third is a mean woman who gets married. And the fourth is a servant who takes the place of the woman she works for.24‘Four things on earth are small. But they are very wise.25The first are ants, which aren’t very strong. But they store up their food in the summer.26The second are hyraxes, which aren’t very powerful. But they make their home among the rocks.27The third are locusts, which don’t have a king. But they all march forward in ranks.28And the fourth are lizards, which your hand can catch. But you will find them in kings’ palaces.29‘Three things walk as if they were kings. Four things move as kings do.30The first is a lion, which is mighty among the animals. It doesn’t back away from anything.31The second is a cockerel, which walks proudly. The third is a billy goat. And the fourth is a king, who is secure against any who might oppose him.32‘Do you do foolish things? Do you think you are better than others? Do you plan evil? If you do, put your hand over your mouth and stop talking!33If you churn cream, you will produce butter. If you twist a nose, you will produce blood. And if you stir up anger, you will produce a fight.’
1Massalı Yake oğlu Agur'un sözleri: Bu adam şöyle diyor: ‹‹Yoruldum, ey Tanrım, yoruldum ve tükendim.2Gerçekten ben insanların en cahiliyim, Bende insan aklı yok.3Bilgeliği öğrenmedim, Kutsal Olan'a ilişkin bilgiden de yoksunum.4Kim göklere çıkıp indi? Kim yeli avuçlarında topladı? Suları giysisiyle sarıp sarmalayan kim? Kim belirledi dünyanın sınırlarını? Adı nedir, oğlunun adı nedir, biliyorsan söyle!5Tanrı'nın her sözü güvenilirdir, O kendisine sığınan herkese kalkandır.6O'nun sözüne bir şey katma, Yoksa seni azarlar, yalancı çıkarsın.7Ey Tanrı, iki şey diledim senden: Ben ölmeden bunları esirgeme benden.8Sahtekârlığı, yalanı benden uzak tut, Bana ne yoksulluk ne de zenginlik ver; Payıma düşen ekmeği ver, yeter.9Yoksa bolluktan, ‹Kimmiş RAB?› diye seni yadsır, Ya da yoksulluktan çalar Ve Tanrım'ın adını lekelemiş olurum.10‹‹Köleyi efendisine çekiştirme, Yoksa sana lanet eder, sen de suçlu çıkarsın.11Öyleleri var ki, babalarına lanet eder, Annelerine değer vermezler.12Öyleleri var ki, kendilerini tertemiz sanırlar, Oysa kötülüklerinden arınmış değiller.13Öyleleri var ki, kendilerinden üstün kimse yok sanır, Herkese tepeden bakarlar.14Öyleleri var ki, dişleri kılıç, çeneleri bıçaktır, Mazlumlarla yoksulları yutup yeryüzünden yok ederler.15Sülüğün iki kızı vardır, adları ‹Ver, ver›dir. Hiç doymayan üç şey, ‹Yeter› demeyen dört şey vardır:16Ölüler diyarı, kısır rahim, Suya doymayan toprak ve ‹Yeter› demeyen ateş.17Babasıyla alay edenin, annesinin sözünü hor görenin Gözünü vadideki kargalar oyacak; O akbabalara yem olacak.18Aklımın ermediği üç şey, Anlamadığım dört şey var:19Kartalın gökyüzünde, Yılanın kayada, Geminin denizde izlediği yol Ve erkeğin genç kızla tuttuğu yol.20Zina eden kadının yolu da şöyledir: Yer, ağzını siler, Sonra da, ‹Suç işlemedim› der.21Yeryüzü üç şeyin altında sarsılır; Katlanamadığı dört şey vardır:22Kölenin kral olması, Budalanın doyması,23Nefret edilen kadının evlenmesi Ve hizmetçinin hanımının yerine geçmesi.24‹‹Dünyada dört küçük yaratık var ki, Çok bilgece davranırlar:25Karıncalar güçlü olmayan bir topluluktur, Ama yiyeceklerini yazdan biriktirirler.26Kaya tavşanları da güçsüz bir topluluktur, Ama yuvalarını kaya kovuklarında yaparlar.27Çekirgelerin kralı yoktur, Ama bölük bölük ilerlerler.28Kertenkele elle bile yakalanır, Ama kral saraylarında bulunur.29‹‹Yürüyüşü gösterişli üç yaratık, Davranışı gösterişli dört yaratık var:30Hayvanların en güçlüsü olan Ve hiçbir şeyin önünde pes etmeyen aslan,31Tazı[1], teke Ve ordusunun başındaki kral.32‹‹Eğer budala gibi kendini yücelttinse Ya da kötülük tasarladınsa, Dur ve düşün[2]!33Çünkü nasıl sütü dövünce tereyağı, Burnu sıkınca kan çıkarsa, Öfkeyi kurcalayınca da kavga çıkar.››