Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 30

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 30 Every word of God is pure—Give me neither poverty nor riches.
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 ^aknowledge of the holy.		3^a Prov. 9:10
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^a, if thou canst tell? 5 Every word of God is ^apure: he is a ^bshield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 ^aAdd thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.	4^a what is his name, and what is his son's name To answer this question one would have to 'read minds' or have the inspiration to know the perspective of the question. As God the Father directed the creation and Jehovah the son as an empowered spirit God performed the creation, it might be in reference unto that Father and Son. Another perspective is that Jehovah is he who is the creator and father and then one would have to understand from what perspective it speaks of 'his son'. That could be a number of answers for in scriptures the Lord has call any number of souls his son from such as Moses to Joseph Smith and even the whole of Israel. But one perspective seems to come to mind that could answer the question with one answer and that is, 'I AM God and Ephraim is my firstborn.' This answer could include in many of the before named perspectives in one from Jesus Christ being that Messiah ben Joseph/Ephraim, the Son of the Father, to that of the gathering to Christ by way of Ephraim to Ephraim as Israel, and even that perspective that Ephraim is the son of the birthright. And that last one includes a number of perspectives also. But the question is asked in a way that lets the seems to support that it is the asker of the question who must in the end provide us with the actual answer.	5^a TG God, Perfection of ^b Ps. 84:11 5^a TG Scriptures, Preservation of
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me ^avanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor ^briches; feed me with ^cfood convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and ^adeny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.		8^a TG Vanity ^b TG Treasure ^c HEB bread of my portion IE allotted food 8^a D&C 101:5
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 ^ageneration that are ^bpure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their ^cfilthiness.		12^a Deut. 32:5; Ps. 95:10; Heb. 3:10 ^b Prov. 16:2 ^c TG Filthiness
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their ^aeyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation, whose ^ateeth 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 ^ahorseleach 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.		13^a Ps. 131:1 14^a Ps. 57:4 15^a IE a blood sucking parasite which is seemingly never satiated
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 ^amouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. 21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22 For a ^aservant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.		20^a 1 John 1:8-10 22^a Prov. 19:10
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ^aants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The ^aconies are but a feeble 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.		25^a Prov. 6:6 26^a IE small animals, such as the rock-badger
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 ^agreyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.		31^a HEB uncertain; perhaps "war-horse"
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 ^astrife.		33^a TG Strife