Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Agur asks for his "portion of bread," not just any food, but what's specifically allotted to him by God's providence. This isn't about getting just enough to survive, but about trusting that God knows precisely what he needs for his unique path and purpose.
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The speaker, Agur, is presenting a prayer to God asking for discernment and guidance. He's not asking for a life free of challenges, but rather for the wisdom to navigate life without falling into destructive extremes that would lead him away from truth and dependence on God.
Agur starts with a powerful plea to be kept far from 'falsehood and lying.' Why is this so crucial, and what do these words really mean for us today?
Agur's first request is for spiritual and moral protection. He's not just asking to avoid outward deception, but to have his inner life guarded.
Guarding Against Inner 'Vanity'
'Vanity' (Hebrew: shav) is about emptiness, worthlessness, and illusion. It's anything that distracts from what is true, solid, and eternal. This can be:
Rejecting Outward 'Lies'
'Lies' (Hebrew: debar cazab) are the outward expressions of inner emptiness. These are deceitful words, false promises, and dishonest actions. They break trust and lead us away from truth.
Agur wants these removed not just from his life, but far from him, indicating a deep desire for genuine sincerity and truth in all his dealings with God and others.
Agur famously prays for neither poverty nor riches. It sounds almost counterintuitive – who doesn't want more? What's the deep wisdom behind this balanced request?
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Agur’s second request is for moderation in material possessions. He recognizes that both extremes—extreme poverty and excessive wealth—carry significant spiritual dangers.
The Dangers of Poverty
Poverty can lead to:
The Dangers of Riches
Wealth, on the other hand, can foster:
Agur’s prayer isn't for a lack of provision, but for a state free from the unique temptations that plague both poverty and wealth, allowing for a life more focused on God.
The prayer concludes with a request for 'food that is needful.' What does this simple phrase reveal about trust, provision, and the rhythm of daily faith?
The final petition is for sufficiency – 'feed me with the food that is needful for me.' This isn't a demand for abundance, but a deep trust in God’s daily provision.
Trusting God's Allocation
Agur asks for 'the bread of my portion' (a literal sense). This implies trusting that God, in His wisdom and love, knows exactly what is 'needful' for him each day. It’s about accepting what God appoints, whether it seems like a lot or a little.
The Practice of Daily Dependence
This prayer cultivates a mindset of daily reliance on God. It suggests:
This aligns with the spirit of the Lord's Prayer ('Give us this day our daily bread'), emphasizing a living, moment-by-moment trust in God’s care.
Understand the original words
shaw · Hebrew Noun
A comprehensive term for anything that is not true, deceptive, or vain. In Scripture, it represents a departure from the character and reality of God.
dabar kazab · Hebrew Noun phrase
The deliberate act of speaking untruths; it stands in direct opposition to God, who is the Truth, and reflects a corrupt heart.
This passage directly echoes Agur's prayer for 'food that is needful' with the Lord's Prayer's petition for 'our daily bread,' highlighting the shared human need for provision and contentment with what God deems sufficient.
1 Timothy 6:8Paul's instruction to Timothy about being content with 'food and covering' strongly aligns with Agur's plea for moderation, emphasizing the spiritual danger in both excessive wealth and desperate poverty.
Philippians 4:11-12Agur's prayer for a middle way resonates with Paul's statement that he has learned to be content 'in any and every circumstance,' showing that true contentment transcends outward financial status.
Ecclesiastes 4:5-6This passage speaks to the dangers of both greed and discontent, mirroring Agur's concern that extremes of wealth and poverty can lead to spiritual compromise and a restless heart.
pooleProverbs 30:8: "Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:"
Remove far from me; from my heart, and from the course of my life. This is the first of Agur’s petitions. Vanity; either, 1. All vain and false opinions concerning God, or the things of God; all unbelief, idolatry, or misbelief. Or, 2. All vanity of heart and life; a vain conversation, an affectation of the vain things of this world, as riches, pleasures, or honours, the…
pulpitProverbs 30:8: "Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:"
Verse 8. - Here is the first request: Remove far from me vanity and lies. Shay, "vanity," is inward hollowness and worthlessness, and "lies" are the expression of this in words. The prayer might indeed be taken as an entreaty against being polluted with the companionship of the evil, like "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;" but it is best taken subje…
Agur asks for his "portion of bread," not just any food, but what's specifically allotted to him by God's providence. This isn't about getting just enough to survive, but about trusting that God knows precisely what he needs for his unique path and purpose.
The speaker, Agur, is presenting a prayer to God asking for discernment and guidance. He's not asking for a life free of challenges, but rather for the wisdom to navigate life without falling into destructive extremes that would lead him away from truth and dependence on God.
The speaker, Agur, is presenting a prayer to God asking for discernment and guidance. He's not asking for a life free of challenges, but rather for the wisdom to navigate life without falling into destructive extremes that would lead him away from truth and dependence on God.
"Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me," — Agur asks for his "portion of bread," not just any food, but what's specifically allotted to him by God's providence. This isn't about getting just enough to survive, but about trusting that God know…
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Last reviewed October 2026