The Strand Study Bible

PROVERBS 30:10

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PROVERBS 30:31

Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 10 1 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. Four kinds of evil people 11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There 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. 15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, 2 Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: Four voracious things that leave a society empty 16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, 3 the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. Four marvels 18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way

of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. Four unthinkable things that cause society to tremble 21 4 For three things the earth is disquieted, and 4 for four which it cannot bear: 22 5 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is 6 filled with meat; 23 4 For an 7 odious woman when she is married; 8 and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. Four amazing creatures that have learned to compensate for their weaknesses 24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The 9 conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces. Four creatures that are stately in their demeanor 29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: 30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

1. Gen 37:2 & Eccl 7:21 2. Note - Their names are “Give and Give.” 3. Deut 28:26 & Prov 20:20 4. that is, “under” 5. Prov 19:10 & Eccl 10:7 6. or, “prosperous” 7. or, “hated; unpleasant” 8. Gen 16:2-4 9. or, “badgers” -

Lev 11:5 & Psa 104:18

31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. 30:11-14 Agur noticed four kinds of evil people in the world ( generation ): ( 1) The disrespectful (vs 11); (2) The hypocritical (vs 12) ; ( 3) The proud (vs 13); and (4) The greedy (vs 14). 30:15a A leech ( horseleach ) is known for five things: (1) Taking that which is not his ; (2) Always getting but never giving ; ( 3) Never being satisfied ; ( 4) Hurting others ; and ( 5) Abandoning his prey when he is done with them. 30:15b Agur noticed four things in life that are never satisfied (vs 16), and are as insatiable as leeches which suck at society continually: (1) The grave ; (2) The barren womb ; ( 3) The earth upon which rain falls ; and (4) Fire . 30:17 This avid quartet (vs 16) is but a type of man who restlessly “mocks” at authority. 30:18 Agur noticed four things that are utterly at ease: ( 1) An eagle in the air (vs 19); (2) A snake upon a rock (vs 19) ; ( 3) A ship in the middle of the sea (vs 19); and (4) A way of a man with a woman (vs 19) 30:21 There are four things that are intolerable and cause ruinous effects upon a society: (1) Sudden elevation to prominence of men of servitude (vs 22); (2) A fool (someone who causes continuous mischief ) when he is satisfied (vs 22) ; ( 3) A woman who seems destined for singleness but at last captures a man and then glories about it (vs 23) ; and ( 4) A servant given honors he/she didn’t deserve. 30:24 Agur noticed four unique members of the animal kingdom that manifested great wisdom despite their size: (1) Ants which have enough sense (foresight) to prepare for winter (vs 25); (2) Badgers which have enough sense to protect themselves from harm (vs 26) ; ( 3) Locusts which have enough sense to work as a team (vs 27) ; and ( 4) Spiders which have enough sense to utilize all their resources despite their size and in so doing learn to dwell amongst kings (vs 28) 30:29 Agur noticed four creatures that manifest dignity when they march: (1) A lion when he stands bold and unflinching (vs 30); (2) A greyhound (vs 31) ; ( 3) A he goat when he is ever climbing higher (vs 31) ; ( 4) A king when he doesn’t stop marching until he tramples his foes (vs 31).