The Way
Before the Palace
Give me neither poverty nor riches
Story
My son, on our way home we pass in front of the palace. Cedar pillars stand there like a forest, the windows are bright with the lights of a feast, and richly dressed nobles walk in past the guards. But beside the gate a poor man sits holding an empty bowl.
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like streams of water; he turns it wherever he wills. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors him.
That is why Agur prayed like this: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with the bread I need. Otherwise I may be full and deny you and say, Who is the Lord? Or I may become poor and steal, and dishonor the name of my God. My son, let's share the bread my friend packed for us with that man before we go. Whoever has a generous eye will be blessed.
Walk this scene on the map →Sayings
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like streams of water; he turns it wherever he wills.
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with the bread I need. Otherwise I may be full and deny you and say, Who is the Lord? Or I may become poor and steal, and dishonor the name of my God.
Whoever has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Prov 21:1; 16:18; 14:31; 30:7–9; 22:9
Background
Solomon spent seven years building the temple and thirteen years building his own palace (1 Kgs 6:38–7:1). Among the palace buildings was the 'House of the Forest of Lebanon', with four rows of cedar pillars and windows set in three rows (1 Kgs 7:2–5). Proverbs 30 contains the words not of Solomon but of 'Agur son of Jakeh', and it holds a prayer rare in the Bible, one that asks for neither poverty nor riches.
Pause and Reflect
Can I be content with what I need and share what I have?