Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30:4

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?

Indeed, what man can do it? Alas, how poor and impotent creatures are we? Is there any of us able to ascend up into heaven, and to descend thence again; yea, have we power to command ought in these lower regions? Have we the rule of the winds, of the waters, of the earth? Shew me the man, that can or dare arrogate this power to himself?

Proverbs 30:10

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

Offer no unjust measure to the meanest person: do not wrongfully accuse a servant to his master; lest, in the bitterness of his soul, he curse thee, and God hearing him shall punish thy guiltiness.

Proverbs 30:11

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

There are four kinds of men, worthy of our avoidance and detestation: the first is of graceless children, who curse those parents, from whom they have received their life and being;

Proverbs 30:12

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

The next is of false hypocrites and self-pleasers, who think themselves holy and just, while yet they are full of wickedness;

Proverbs 30:13

There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes; and their eyelids are lifted up.

The third is of proud men, who are exalted in their own opinions, and look scornfully over other men, perhaps better than themselves;

Proverbs 30:14

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, &c.

The last is of cruel oppressors, which kill and devour the poor, &c.

Proverbs 30:15

The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

The horseleach hath naturally a forked tongue; whereby she draweth blood insatiably of that part whereon soever it lights: answerable whereunto are three things, yea four, that still crave, and can never be satisfied:

Proverbs 30:16

The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

The grave is not satisfied with carcasses, the incontinent womb is not satisfied with lust, the dry earth drinks up all the water that falls upon it, the fire devours all the combustible matter that it lays hold upon, and all of these call for more.

Proverbs 30:17

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.

That man, who is so lewd and unnatural, as to mock his father and to despise his mother, shall be sure to be seized upon by the just judgments of God: his very eyes, in whom that wicked and graceless scorn hath shewed itself, shall be picked out of his head, by the greediest and fiercest ravens, and the young eagles shall eat them: certainly, God will find some means to be avenged of him.

Proverbs 30:19

The way of a man with a maid.

The close conveyances and subtle passages of a secret and crafty fornicator, with a cunning harlot.

Proverbs 30:21

Four which it cannot bear.

There are four things very intolerable.

Proverbs 30:23

For an odious woman that is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

A woman of lewd and odious qualities and conditions, which can neither be reformed nor endured by her husband; and a poor handmaid suddenly advanced to a rich estate, grown now insolent and imperious with her promotion.

Proverbs 30:29

Yea, four are comely in going.

s 2 Yea four, which carry a good presence with them, and carry a kind of port and pleasure in their motion.

Proverbs 30:31

An horse (as it is in the margin); an he goat; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

A well shaped and beautiful horse proudly trampling; a fair and well-coloured he goat; and a magnificent prince, that is honoured and acclaimed of all his subjects.

Proverbs 30:32

Lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

Yet, suppress it in thyself; and be not so foolish and wicked, as to utter it.

Proverbs 30:33

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.

As the agitation of the milk in the churn bringeth forth butter, and as the strong and vehement wringing of the nostrils, bringeth forth blood, so the earnest provocation of anger is the occasion of quarrels and much strife.