God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 30:7
7“I’ve asked you for two things. Don’t keep them from me before I die:
Proverbs 30:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
- New International Version (NIV)“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die:
- English Standard Version (ESV)Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:
- New King James Version (NKJV)Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):
Context of Proverbs 30:7
5“All of God’s word has proven to be true. He is a shield to those who come to him for protection. 6Do not add to his words, or he will reprimand you, and you will be found to be a liar. “I’ve asked you for two things. Don’t keep them from me before I die: 8Keep vanity and lies far away from me. Don’t give me either poverty or riches. Feed me ⌞only⌟ the food I need, 9or I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal and give the name of my God a bad reputation.
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:7 word by word
שְׁ֭תַּיִם שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵאִתָּ֑ךְ אַל־תִּמְנַ֥ע מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּי בְּטֶ֣רֶם אָמֽוּת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 30:7
- 1 Kings 3:5In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. He said, “What can I give you?”
- 2 Kings 2:9While they were crossing, Elijah asked Elisha, “What should I do for you before I’m taken from you?” Elisha answered, “Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”
- Psalms 27:4I have asked one thing from the Lord. This I will seek: to remain in the Lord’s house all the days of my life in order to gaze at the Lord’s beauty and to search for an answer in his temple.
- Luke 10:42There’s only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”
- Psalms 21:2You gave him his heart’s desire. You did not refuse the prayer from his lips. Selah
Commentaries on Proverbs 30:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Two things have I required of thee - These two petitions are mentioned in the next verse; and he wishes to have them answered before he should die. That is, he wishes the answer now, that he may live the rest of his life in the state he describes.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Two things - The limitation of man‘s desires follows naturally upon his consciousness of the limits of his knowledge.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-9Verses 7-9 Agur wisely prayed for a middle state, that he might be kept at a distance from temptations; he asked daily bread suited to his station, his family, and his real good. There is a remarkable similarity between this prayer and several clauses of the Lord's prayer. If we are removed from vanity and lies; if we are interested in the pardoning love of Christ, and have him for our portion; if we walk with God, then we shall have all we can ask or…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9Agur asks God for two things: Help to avoid lying (compare Proverbs 6:16–19; 14:5, 25; 25:18; 26:18–19) To not have too much or too little Being rich (Proverbs 3:9–10, 15–16; 10:15, 22) or poor (3:27; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14) is not sinful, but Agur wisely wants to avoid the problems of both.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-97-9. A prayer for exemption from wickedness, and the extremes of poverty and riches, the two things mentioned. Contentment is implied as desired.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 30:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 30
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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