Proverbs 30

1 These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.

2 For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.

3 God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.

4 Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?

5 For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.

6 Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar.

7 Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die.

8 Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:

9 lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear by the name of God.

10 Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed.

11 A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.

12 A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.

13 A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.

14 A wicked generation have swords teeth and jaw-teeth knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.

15 The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.

16 The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.

17 The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.

18 Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:

19 the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.

20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.

21 By three thing the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear:

22 if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;

23 or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.

24 And four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:

25 the ants which are weak, and prepare food in summer;

26 the rabbits also a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.

27 The locusts have no king, and march orderly at one command.

28 And the eft, which supports itself by hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.

29 And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.

30 A lion's whelp, stronger than beasts, which turns not away, nor fears beast;

31 and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and the goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.

32 If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced.

33 Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wing nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.

Proverbs 30 Commentary

Chapter 30

Verses 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. Verse 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.

Verses 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?

Verse 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. The usual punctuation has been altered.
• [b]. Or, fold of his robe.
• [c]. Gr. out of place.
• [d]. Gr. those with her.
• [e]. Comp. Heb. and A.V.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 17

This chapter begins with a prophecy of Elijah, that there should be want of rain for some years to come, and he is directed to go first to the brook Cherith, where he should be fed by ravens, 1Ki 17:1-7, and afterwards he is sent to a widow at Zarephath, where he, she, and her son, were supported for a considerable time with a handful of meal, and a little oil in a cruse miraculously increased, 1Ki 17:8-16, whose son falling sick and dying, he restored to life, 1Ki 17:17-24.