Proverbs 30:18
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
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.
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 mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
- KJV
- There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
- WEB
- “There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:
- ASV
- There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not:
- DARBY
- There are three [things] too wonderful for me, and four that I know not:
- BLB
- Three [things], they are wonderful for me, and four, I cannot know them:
- ÅB
- Det er tre ting som er meg for underlige, og fire som jeg ikke skjønner:
- OTB
- Det er tre ting som er for underfulle for meg, fire som jeg ikke forstår:
- B1930
- Det er tre ting som er mig for underlige, og fire som jeg ikke skjønner:
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 42:3
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Read in contextPsalms 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Read in context