Proverbs 30:7 kjv

Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

Proverbs 30:7 nkjv

Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):

Proverbs 30:7 niv

"Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die:

Proverbs 30:7 esv

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:

Proverbs 30:7 nlt

O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.

Proverbs 30 verses

Proverbs 30 7 Meaning

Proverbs 30:7 expresses Agur's earnest and urgent plea to God to grant him two specific things during his lifetime. It serves as an introductory prayer, setting the stage for the crucial requests detailed in verses 8 and 9. This verse highlights Agur's humility and profound dependence on divine provision for his spiritual well-being and moral integrity, rather than focusing on worldly possessions or status. It signifies his deep desire to live a life that honors God and avoids temptation until his dying day.

Proverbs 30 7 Context

Proverbs 30 opens with "The words of Agur son of Jakeh, an oracle." This distinguishes Agur as a specific author whose wisdom contribution stands apart within the broader Book of Proverbs. Unlike many proverbial statements that are direct instructions, Agur's section includes a confessional prelude (Prov 30:2-4), expressing his personal inadequacy and dependence on divine revelation for wisdom. Verse 7, immediately following this confession, establishes a personal prayer form, where Agur addresses God directly with profound humility. This personal petition then serves as an introduction to his two specific and pivotal requests regarding financial state and moral integrity (Prov 30:8-9), underscoring his belief that true well-being is found in God's measured provision, rather than extremes. The cultural context places Agur within the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, yet his direct, humble appeal to God sets his work apart.

Proverbs 30 7 Word analysis

• "Two things" (Hebrew: Sh'tayim, שְׁתַּ֬יִם): This numerical prefix is a common literary device in wisdom literature, signifying a distinct enumeration that will follow. Here, it emphasizes the importance and precise nature of the two subsequent requests, serving as a solemn and specific prelude.
• "I ask" (Hebrew: Sha'alti, שָׁאַ֨לְתִּי): A verb in the perfect tense, it suggests a profound, already-formed desire or a persistent plea that is now articulated. It conveys a deep, personal supplication to God, indicative of genuine reliance and urgency rather than a casual wish.
• "of you" (Hebrew: Me'ittakh, מֵאִתָּ֑ךְ): The singular pronoun and suffix unequivocally address God directly, underscoring a personal and intimate relationship between Agur, the petitioner, and the Almighty. This highlights the absolute dependency on God alone for the fulfillment of these vital needs.
• "do not refuse me" (Hebrew: 'Al-timna' mimmenniy, אַל־תִּמְנַע֮ מִמֶּנִּ֫י): This strong negative imperative uses the verb mana' (מָנַע), meaning "to withhold" or "to deny." It expresses an urgent, fervent plea to God, imploring Him not to deny or withhold the essential provisions Agur seeks, signifying his complete and hopeful reliance on divine grace and faithfulness.
• "before I die" (Hebrew: Beterem 'amut, בְּטֶ֖רֶם אָמֽוּת): This phrase injects a powerful sense of mortality, urgency, and the finite nature of human life. It indicates that these requests are not for a distant future but are critical conditions for living a righteous and peaceful life now, for the entirety of his remaining days on earth. It frames the petitions as indispensable for enduring integrity until life's very end.

Words-group analysis

• "Two things I ask of you": This opening segment firmly establishes the intentional and specific nature of Agur's prayer. By directly addressing God and highlighting a numerical precision, it emphasizes a conscious and deliberate appeal to divine authority, recognizing God's absolute sovereignty and capability to respond to his petition.
• "do not refuse me before I die": This complete clause profoundly conveys the humility, earnestness, and temporal urgency of Agur's prayer. It reveals his acute awareness of human mortality and a deep, pressing desire to live out his days under specific, divinely established conditions that will safeguard his character and honor God, emphasizing that these are lifelong necessities, not deferred wishes.

Proverbs 30 7 Bonus section

• Agur's confession of intellectual limitation and spiritual inadequacy in Proverbs 30:2-4, immediately preceding this verse, powerfully underscores the humility with which he approaches God. This self-assessment ("Surely I am too stupid to be a man... I have not learned wisdom, nor have I the knowledge of the Holy One") amplifies the significance of his two requests, portraying him not as a sage dispensing wisdom, but as a seeker humbly receiving it directly from God.
• This verse, and the subsequent requests in 30:8-9, introduces a specific genre of "prayer-proverb" into the larger collection. While many proverbs offer didactic instruction, Agur's contribution includes a direct, intimate dialogue with God, reinforcing that prayer is an essential channel through which divine wisdom for practical living is sought and received.
• The emphasis on "two things" lays the groundwork for the concept of avoiding extremes, advocating for a balanced or "middle way" in life's circumstances. This perspective is a recurring motif in broader wisdom traditions but is here firmly anchored in reliance on God's sovereign provision to safeguard moral steadfastness against the pitfalls of both destitution and abundance.

Proverbs 30 7 Commentary

Proverbs 30:7 serves as a poignant and unique personal preface within the book of Proverbs, signaling Agur's direct, humble address to God. This prayer stands apart because Agur is not asking for typical worldly desires like riches or power. Instead, his focus is on the fundamental spiritual and moral conditions for a life lived with integrity and true contentment. The plea "do not refuse me before I die" emphasizes the critical, lifelong importance of these conditions; they are not minor desires but essentials for navigating existence without succumbing to the temptations associated with extreme poverty (leading to theft or denial of God) or extreme wealth (leading to pride or forgetting God). Agur's prayer is a profound example of asking God for what genuinely sustains righteousness and fosters a right relationship with Him.

• A pastor might pray not for a grand congregation, but for a pure heart to preach God's truth without compromise, avoiding either fear of man or self-aggrandizement.
• A parent might pray less for their child's worldly success, and more that they grow in humility and dependence on God throughout their life, avoiding the snares of greed or despair.