DAWN

     Explanation: Proverbs 30 contains comparisons and contrasts between the righteous and the wicked. This chapter is a sub-division within the second main part of Proverbs (25-31). Most of the proverbs in this chapter are grouped thematically. The chapter begins with Agur's profession of brutishness and with a challenge to Ithiel and Ucal to learn wisdom. Today's painting has a similar theme: Diogenes goes forth seeking a "man;" but, in his judgment, he finds only "brutes."

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 31. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 30. Book of Proverbs. ]

     The subjects of chapter 30 are these: This chapter was written by Agur the son of Jakeh, who may have been an ancient king; his words were given to Ithiel and Ucal, who may have been his sons (1). Agur modestly said that he was brutish, that he did not have the understanding of a man, that he had not learned wisdom, and that he did not have the knowledge of the Holy One (2-3). Agur then challenged the knowledge of Ithiel and Ucal, asking them "Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up 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? Surely you know! " (4). Agur then exhorted Ithiel and Ucal to recognize that every word of God is true and that he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. For this reason, Agur warned them, "Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar." This warning is found in similar words in other passages of Scripture such as Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19; Job 13:7-9; and 1 Corinthians 15:15. Those who disobey these warnings create a religion of their own and suffer the consequences (5-6). Having said these things, Agur then begins a series of lessons. First, he asks that God would remove from him falsehood and lying (such as that promulgated by those who add to or take away from God's words). And he asks that he would have neither poverty nor riches and that he would be fed with the food which was appointed to him. This is reflected in the LORD's prayer (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3): "Give us this day our daily bread." The purpose of this prayer was to keep Agur from being full and denying the LORD or from being poor, stealing, and thereby taking the name of God in vain (7-9). Agur follows these requests with an exhortation: "Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty." This is the counterpart to Agur's previous words. Previously Agur warned that liars were in danger from God. In this exhortation he warns that liars are in danger from men -- specifically from judges (10). Next, Agur (implicitly) warns against certain types of people. Some curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. Others are clean in their own eves but are not washed from their filth. Others are prideful with eyes and eyelids lifted up. Others devour the poor and needy with teeth like swords and fangs like knives (11-14). Agur then depicts the evils of insatiability. The leach has two daughters which cry "Give, give." Various things are never satisfied: the grave, the barren womb, the drought-stricken earth, and the fire. The implication is that insatiable people have this frustration in common with these (15-16). Agur then warns that the eye which mocks his father, and despises obedience to his mother will be plucked out by ravens and eaten by young eagles (17). Next, Agur returns to his opening professions of ignorance and mentions several things which are beyond his understanding: the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship upon the sea, the way of a man with a virgin, and the way of an adulterous woman who "eats," wipes her mouth, and says that she has done no wickedness (18-20). Agur's next lesson concerns things which trouble the earth: a slave who becomes king; a fool who is filled with food; an unloved woman who gets a husband; and a maidservant who displaces her mistress (21-23). Agur's next lesson concerns things which, though small, are wise and effective: the ants which provide their food in summer; the rock badgers which are weak but make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts which have no king, yet all of them march in rank; and the lizard which you can capture with your hand, but are in kings palaces (24-28). Agur then speaks of stately things: the lion which is the mightiest of beasts and does not turn back for any; the strutting rooster; the he-goat; and a king whose army is with him (29-31). Agur then says that if you have been foolish by exalting yourself, or if you have devised evil, put your hand upon your mouth -- i.e., desist immediately (32). Agur's final lesson is a warning against anger: "Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood: so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife" (33).

¹ The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

² Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
³ I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

⁴ Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?
who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment?
who hath established all the ends of the earth?
what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

⁵ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
⁶ Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

⁷ Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

¹⁰ Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

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, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
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, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

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.

²¹ For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot [not able to] bear:
²² For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
²³ For anodious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

²⁴ There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise [wise wise]:
²⁵ The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
²⁶ The conies are but a feeble [not powerful] 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.

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;
³¹ A greyhound [slender waist]; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up [irresistible].

³² If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

³³ Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.