DO YOU KNOW GOD?
Key verse: 5
NIV
Sayings of Agur
30 The sayings(A) of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance.
This man’s utterance to Ithiel:
“I am weary, God,
but I can prevail.[a]
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
I do not have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.(B)
4 Who has gone up(C) to heaven and come down?
Whose hands(D) have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters(E) in a cloak?(F)
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name,(G) and what is the name of his son?
Surely you know!
5 “Every word of God is flawless;(H)
he is a shield(I) to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add(J) to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.(K)
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown(L) you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’(M)
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.(N)
10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,
or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 30:1 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text utterance to Ithiel, / to Ithiel and Ukal:
Cross references
- Proverbs 30:1 : S Pr 22:17
- Proverbs 30:3 : S Pr 9:10
- Proverbs 30:4 : Dt 30:12; Ps 24:1-2; S Pr 8:22-31; Jn 3:13; Eph 4:7-10
- Proverbs 30:4 : Isa 40:12
- Proverbs 30:4 : Job 26:8
- Proverbs 30:4 : S Ge 1:2
- Proverbs 30:4 : Rev 19:12
- Proverbs 30:5 : S Ps 12:6; S 18:30
- Proverbs 30:5 : S Ge 15:1
- Proverbs 30:6 : S Dt 4:2
- Proverbs 30:8 : Mt 6:11
- Proverbs 30:9 : Jos 24:27; Isa 1:4; 59:13
- Proverbs 30:9 : Dt 6:12; 8:10-14; Hos 13:6
- Proverbs 30:9 : S Dt 8:12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Words of Agur
30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.[a]
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.[b]
2 Surely I am too (A)stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of (B)the Holy One.
4 Who has (C)ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has (D)gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has (E)wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all (F)the ends of the earth?
(G)What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know!
5 (H)Every word of God proves true;
he is (I)a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 (J)Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me (K)before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is (L)needful for me,
9 lest I be (M)full and (N)deny you
and say, (O)“Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
(P)and profane the name of my God.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 30:1 Or Jakeh, the man of Massa
- Proverbs 30:1 Revocalization; Hebrew The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal
Cross references
- Proverbs 30:2 : See Ps. 49:10
- Proverbs 30:3 : ch. 9:10
- Proverbs 30:4 : John 3:13
- Proverbs 30:4 : [Isa. 40:12]; See Job 38:4-11; Ps. 104:3-6
- Proverbs 30:4 : Job 26:8
- Proverbs 30:4 : Ps. 22:27
- Proverbs 30:4 : [Rev. 19:12]
- Proverbs 30:5 : Ps. 12:6; 18:30
- Proverbs 30:5 : See Ps. 3:3
- Proverbs 30:6 : Deut. 4:2; 12:32; [Rev. 22:18]
- Proverbs 30:7 : Gen. 45:28
- Proverbs 30:8 : Job 23:12; Matt. 6:11; Luke 11:3
- Proverbs 30:9 : Deut. 8:12; 31:20; 32:15; Neh. 9:25; [ver. 22]
- Proverbs 30:9 : Josh. 24:27
- Proverbs 30:9 : Ex. 5:2
- Proverbs 30:9 : [Job 21:14, 15]; See Ex. 20:7
- Proverbs 30:10 : [Ps. 15:3; 101:5]
- Proverbs 30:10 : Eccles. 7:21
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
This chapter begins with a person who is frustrated and cries out for God's help. He confesses that he has not learned God’s wisdom. The knowledge of God turns his mind to the Almighty God ruling in heaven, who created all things, and holds the world in his hands. We should long for God’s wisdom like this until we know God and Jesus, his Son.
How can we know God and his Son? We can know them through the living Word of God. Every single word of God in the Bible proves to be true when we hold onto God’s word instead of what the world teaches us. More so, we can experience that God protects us and helps us when we hold onto his words. We need to repent of adding our own ideas to God’s word, especially when seeking after monetary security. Let’s make this my prayer: Lord, make me to be neither rich nor poor, but I may be content and have God with me.
Prayer: Father, thank you for meeting me through your word and protecting me. Please make me neither rich, nor poor so I may never forsake you.
One Word: Take refuge in God
