Chapter 30
Proverbs 30 kicks off with Agur basically saying, “Yeah, I don’t know much. Actually, I’m kind of clueless.” Now, that’s not what you expect when someone’s dropping wisdom, right? Especially today, when everyone online sounds like they’re giving a PhD lecture on everything from politics to pineapple toppings on pizza. But here’s the thing: sometimes the smartest move is admitting you don’t have all the answers. Agur is basically the ancient version of, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m learning.”
As you read through the chapter, you get this vibe that Agur is that quiet observer in the coffee shop, watching ants hustle and thinking, “You know, those little guys have it figured out.” He points out all these weird things about life and nature—stuff like ants storing food without a manager telling them what to do. Meanwhile, we humans are busy stressing over tweets and trying to predict the stock market.
Agur doesn’t just throw out wisdom like confetti; he’s reflecting on life, admitting life’s mysteries, and warning us not to get too full of ourselves. Because honestly, who hasn’t acted like a know-it-all at some point, only to realize later they were way off? This chapter is like a humble reminder that being arrogant is exhausting—and usually wrong.
He also talks about contentment, which, let’s be real, sounds like an ancient mic drop. He says, “Give me neither poverty nor riches,” because too much of either leads to trouble. In a world obsessed with “more, more, more,” this is a breath of fresh air. Imagine praying for “just enough” and actually meaning it. That’s the kind of peace Agur points us toward.
And then there’s Jesus—the ultimate example of this humble wisdom. He knew everything but never acted like a know-it-all. Instead, He served, listened, and depended completely on the Father. So if Jesus can walk around humble and still be the smartest person in the room, maybe we can chill out on pretending we have all the answers too.
Proverbs 30 invites us to stop pretending, start listening, and trust the One who really does have it all figured out—even when we don’t.
Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh–an inspired utterance.
This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail. 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. 4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add 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. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 “Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
11 “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; 12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; 13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful; 14 those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.
15 “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry.
“There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: 16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
17 “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.
18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.
20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’
21 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: 22 a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat, 23 a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.
24 “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: 25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; 26 hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; 27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; 28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: 30 a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; 31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.
32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth! 33 For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”