ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Proverbs 30.3-4

Book: Proverbs · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; The oracle. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal: 2. Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man;"

"3. And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One. 4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?"

"5. Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him. 6. Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:1-6, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: 2. “Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding."

"3. I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4. Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?"

"5. “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6. Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:1-6, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"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. have: Heb. know 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. pure: Heb. purified 6. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:1-6, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. Words of a Gatherer, son of an obedient one, the declaration, an affirmation of the man:, I have wearied myself [for] God, I have wearied myself [for] God, and am consumed. 2. For I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man."

"3. Nor have I learned wisdom, Yet the knowledge of Holy Ones I know. 4. Who went up to heaven, and cometh down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound waters in a garment? Who established all ends of the earth? What [is] His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest!"

"5. Every saying of God [is] tried, A shield He [is] to those trusting in Him. 6. Add not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false." (Proverbs 30:1-6, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Solomon (principal); Agur; Lemuel; wise men
  • Audience: young Israelite men in the wisdom tradition
  • Location: Israel, Solomonic court
  • Time period: principal composition c. 970-930 BC (Solomon); compilation c. 700 BC (Hezekiah)

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.