Proverbs 30:7 - The Words of Agur

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Context

The Words of Agur
…6Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar. 7Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die: 8Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.…

Cross References

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.Philippians 4:11-12
I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.1 Timothy 6:6-8
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.James 4:3
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’Luke 11:3-4
Give us each day our daily bread. / And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Luke 12:15
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”Psalm 119:36-37
Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain. / Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.Psalm 62:10
Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.Psalm 37:16
Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.Psalm 23:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.Psalm 34:9-10
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. / Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

1 Kings 3:5-9
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee…

2 Kings 2:9
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 21:2
Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

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Proverbs 30

Two things I ask of You—
This phrase introduces a prayerful request, highlighting the humility and dependence on God. The number "two" signifies completeness in Hebrew culture, suggesting a comprehensive request. This echoes Solomon's prayer for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:9, where he asks for discernment to govern the people. The act of asking God directly reflects a personal relationship and trust in His provision, reminiscent of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you."

do not refuse me before I die:
The plea "do not refuse me" indicates a sense of urgency and earnestness. The phrase "before I die" underscores the brevity of life and the desire to live righteously. This reflects the biblical theme of seeking God's favor and wisdom throughout one's life, as seen in Psalm 90:12, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." The request is made with the awareness of human mortality, emphasizing the importance of spiritual priorities over temporal concerns.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Agur
The author of Proverbs 30, Agur is a relatively obscure figure in the Bible. His name means "collector" or "gatherer," and he is known for his wisdom and humility. Agur's sayings are distinct in their candidness and earnestness, reflecting a deep desire for integrity and truth.

2. God
The ultimate recipient of Agur's request. Agur's prayer is directed to God, indicating a personal relationship and trust in God's provision and wisdom.

3. Proverbs
A book of the Bible that is part of the wisdom literature. It contains sayings and teachings that provide guidance on how to live a life pleasing to God.

Teaching Points

The Importance of Prayerful Requests
Agur's approach to God with specific requests highlights the importance of bringing our needs and desires before God in prayer. It encourages believers to be intentional and thoughtful in their prayers.

Seeking Balance in Life
Agur's request for neither poverty nor riches underscores the value of a balanced life. It teaches that contentment and reliance on God are more valuable than material wealth.

Trusting in God's Provision
By asking God not to refuse his requests, Agur demonstrates trust in God's wisdom and provision. This teaches believers to rely on God's understanding rather than their own.

The Pursuit of Integrity
Agur's prayer reflects a desire for a life of integrity and truth. It encourages believers to seek honesty and righteousness in their daily lives.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:7–9 emphasizes neither poverty nor riches; how do we reconcile this with other passages that promise material blessings? Who is the Second Person of the Trinity?Proverbs 30:15-16 personifies a leech and lists things never satisfied; what evidence supports or refutes these claims scientifically?Why does the final chapter (Job 42) seemingly contradict earlier statements about divine justice and fairness, hinting that God's blessing can be won through passive endurance?

(7) Two things have I required of thee.--The commencement of a series of numerical proverbs. (See above on Proverbs 6:16.)

Before I die--i.e., while life lasts.

Verses 7-9. - A mashal ode, containing two requests, and a rationale of the latter. The matter of the two prayers connects it with ver. 6, whether we consider that the limitation of man's desire follows naturally the limitation of his knowledge (Plumptre). or that the warning against being reproved as a liar is corroborated by the prayer against vanity and lies (but see below, on ver. 9). It is the first of Agur's numerical proverbs. Verse 7. - Two things have I required of thee. The personal pronoun applies to God, who, according to our interpretation, has been invoked in ver. 1; otherwise it stands without reference to anything preceding. Deny me not before I die; i.e. grant me these two things for the rest of my life. Septuagint, "Take not grace (χάριν) from me before I die." Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Two
שְׁ֭תַּיִם (ta·yim)
Number - fd
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

things I ask
שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי (šā·’al·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

of You—
מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּי (mim·men·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

refuse me
תִּמְנַ֥ע (tim·na‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 4513: To debar, from benefit, injury

before
בְּטֶ֣רֶם (bə·ṭe·rem)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 2962: Non-occurrence, not yet, before

I die:
אָמֽוּת׃ (’ā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

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