Proverbs 30
Lutheran reading notes
In Proverbs chapter 30, the wisdom literature continues to explore wisdom for righteous living and reverence for God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, {even} the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Proverbs 30:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Surely I {am} more brutish than {any} man, and have not the understanding of a man.
Proverbs 30:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. {have: Heb. know}
Proverbs 30:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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?
Proverbs 30:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Every word of God {is} pure: he {is} a shield unto them that put their trust in him. {pure: Heb. purified}
Proverbs 30:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Proverbs 30:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Two {things} have I required of thee; deny me {them} not before I die: {deny...: Heb. withhold not from me}
8
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: {convenient...: Heb. of my allowance}
Proverbs 30:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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}. {deny...: Heb. belie thee}
Proverbs 30:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. {Accuse...: Heb. Hurt not with thy tongue}
Proverbs 30:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
{There is} a generation {that} curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Proverbs 30:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
{There is} a generation {that are} pure in their own eyes, and {yet} is not washed from their filthiness.
Proverbs 30:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
{There is} a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
Proverbs 30:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Proverbs 30:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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: {It is...: Heb. Wealth}
Proverbs 30:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth {that} is not filled with water; and the fire {that} saith not, {It is} enough.
Proverbs 30:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {the valley: or, the brook}
Proverbs 30:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
There be three {things which} are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
Proverbs 30:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {midst: Heb. heart}
Proverbs 30:19 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
Such {is} the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
Proverbs 30:20 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
For three {things} the earth is disquieted, and for four {which} it cannot bear:
Proverbs 30:21 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
Proverbs 30:22 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
For an odious {woman} when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
Proverbs 30:23 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
There be four {things which are} little upon the earth, but they {are} exceeding wise: {exceeding...: Heb. wise, made wise}
Proverbs 30:24 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
The ants {are} a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
Proverbs 30:25 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
The conies {are but} a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
Proverbs 30:26 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; {by...: Heb. gathered together}
Proverbs 30:27 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
Proverbs 30:28 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
There be three {things} which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
Proverbs 30:29 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
A lion {which is} strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
Proverbs 30:30 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom {there is} no rising up. {greyhound: or, horse: Heb. girt in the loins}
Proverbs 30:31 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
32
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, {lay} thine hand upon thy mouth.
Proverbs 30:32 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Proverbs 30:33 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.