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Proverbs 30: Agur’s Wise Sayings
What can we do and where can we find help when we are exhausted and at our wits’ end?
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Proverbs 30:1 Agur, son of Jakeh, cries out, “God, I am exhausted. How can I survive?”
King James
Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Upon what basis do people typically judge others?
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Proverbs 30:2 I am as brutish as any man, and I don’t understand people.
King James
Proverbs 30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
How much can we know about God?
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Proverbs 30:3–4 I lack wisdom, and I can’t figure out God.
Has anyone ascended to Heaven to bring God down to Earth? Who can capture the wind with their hands? Can water be bound and worn as a garment? Does anybody know how the earth was made? If you can tell me, what is the Creator’s name and the name of his son?
Isaiah 5:8–9 Woe to those who move from house to bigger house, from field to bigger field, until there is no room for anyone else in their land. I heard the Lord of hosts say the big houses will be empty. Those beautiful houses will have no one living in them.
Hebrews 6:4–6 Those who have seen the light, accepted the gift of salvation, and received the Holy Spirit, having tasted the goodness of God’s word, experiencing the spiritual strength of the world to come, if they turn away, they have no means to gain repentance and forgiveness, since they crucify the Son of God a second time, putting him to open shame.
King James
Proverbs 30:3–4 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 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?
Isaiah 5:8–9 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
Hebrews 6:4–6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
In what ways is God’s word tested?
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Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested and true. He protects those who seek refuge in him.
King James
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Under what circumstances might we want to make a declaration and say, “God says”? When might that be a mistake??
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Proverbs 30:6 Don’t add your words as if God said them, or you will be found a liar.
King James
Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Before we die, what should we want more than anything else?
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Proverbs 30:7–8 I ask of the Lord two things before I die: First, let empty words and lies have no part in my life, and second, let me be neither poor nor rich. Give me enough to satisfy my needs.
King James
Proverbs 30:7–8 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
If there is danger in having too much or too little, how much is “just right”?
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Proverbs 30:9 If I have too much, then I might feel independent and say, “Who needs the Lord?” If I were poor, I might become a thief, dishonoring God.
King James
Proverbs 30:9 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.
Under what circumstances is it good to speak negatively about someone?
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Proverbs 30:10–11 Never badmouth employees when speaking to their superiors, or you will be cursed and found guilty.
Some people curse their father and have nothing good to say about their mother.
King James
Proverbs 30:10–11 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
How can we see ourselves as we really are, as God sees us?
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Proverbs 30:12–13 Some see themselves as clean and righteous when actually they are filthy, needing to be cleansed.
People may see themselves as superior, their eyelids raised as they look down upon others.
King James
Proverbs 30:12–13 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
What do vicious people do to “devour” the poor and oppressed?
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Proverbs 30:14 With teeth like swords, their front teeth sharp as knives, vicious people devour the poor and oppressed.
King James
Proverbs 30:14 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
Why are the greedy never satisfied?
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Proverbs 30:15–16 Leeches have two cries: give me and give me more. A third cry won’t satisfy them. Even a fourth won’t be enough.
The grave, the barren womb, the desert thirsting for water, and the fire that keeps burning—they never say, “I’ve had enough.”
King James
Proverbs 30:15–16 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 grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
What are the main reasons for children disrespecting their parents?
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Proverbs 30:17 Rolled eyes that scorn a father’s authority and despise a mother’s direction should be plucked out by ravens and eaten by vultures.
King James
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.
How should we deal with judgments from science that don’t seem to support biblical accounts?
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Proverbs 30:18–19 With three things that amaze me, I have four that I don’t understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, a snake upon a rock, and a ship sailing the ocean—and the ways of men with women.
1 Timothy 6:20 Oh Timothy, guard the gifts entrusted to you. Avoid foolish debates with people who oppose God with their expert knowledge that isn’t so smart.
King James
Proverbs 30:18–19 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 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.
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
How can sinful people say they have done no wrong?
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Proverbs 30:20 A prostitute sleeps with a man, takes a shower, and says, “I have done nothing wrong.”
King James
Proverbs 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
What can we say about situations that shouldn’t be the way they are?
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Proverbs 30:21–23 Three things make the earth quake, and a fourth is too much: a servant who reigns as king, a fool who has plenty to eat, a hateful woman who is married, and a mistress who displaces a wife.
King James
Proverbs 30:21–23 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
Why are some things regarded as trivial when they are actually important?
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Proverbs 30:24–28 Four things seem unimportant on Earth but are actually show great wisdom. Ants are tiny creatures with little strength, yet they fill their pantries during the summer. Badgers aren’t that mighty, yet they make their homes in the rocks. Although they have no leader, the locusts move together like an army. Lizards are easy to catch, yet they are still found in the palaces of kings.
King James
Proverbs 30:24–28 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
When is it good to stand strong? When is it good to surrender?
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Proverbs 30:29–31 Three things are good, and a fourth is beneficial in your walk. Lions are mighty beasts that won’t turn away when threatened. A strutting rooster, a mountain goat, and a king stand above any uprising.
King James
Proverbs 30:29–31 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
What kind of pride is not foolish?
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Proverbs 30:32 If you have elevated yourself in foolish pride or have plotted against someone, speak of it no more.
King James
Proverbs 30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Is there ever a case when anger does not stir up strife and do harm? Why??
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Proverbs 30:33 As churning milk produces butter and a smashed nose will bleed, so does the release of anger stir up strife.
King James
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.