There be four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceeding wise: Context The Words of Agur
1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal, 2Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 4Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? who has gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell? 5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him. 6Add you not to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar. 7Two things have I required of you; deny me them not before I die: 8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 10Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty. 11There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother. 12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14There 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. 15The horse leach has two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yes, four things say not, It is enough: 16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that said not, It is enough. 17The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not: 19The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock; the way of a ship in the middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. 20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and said, I have done no wickedness. 21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22For a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. 24There be four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28The spider takes hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. 29There be three things which go well, yes, four are comely in going: 30A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turns not away for any; 31A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. 32If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, lay your hand on your mouth. 33Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife. Parallel Verses American Standard Version
There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise:
Douay-Rheims Bible
There are four very little things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise:
Darby Bible Translation
There are four things little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise:
King James Bible
There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
Young's Literal Translation
Four are little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:
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