Because Agur knows and fears the Word of God (Proverbs 30:5–6), he is anxious to avoid two dangers: falsehood and lies; and poverty and riches. He prays that the Lord will preserve him from these.
In Scripture, “falsehood and lies” are more than the untruths that people tell. They refer to everything on which we may build our trust, but which will ultimately disappoint. Agur prays that he will not put any trust in false notions about God or about life in this world.
His second prayer has three parts: Give me (a) neither poverty (b) nor riches, (c) but give me only my daily bread. Poverty is indeed disastrous (see Proverbs 10:15). God gave laws to Israel which were intended to protect people from falling into poverty. When poverty strikes, people are tempted to dishonour God’s name through unbelief and crime. This is why Agur wisely prays to be preserved from it.
Yet Agur is equally afraid of riches, since it also brings many temptations. A rich person can easily forget to live in humble dependence upon God. Having “too much” can make us “disown” God. Therefore, Agur prays simply to have his “daily bread,” a prayer that the Lord Jesus would later teach his disciples to pray.
Blessed are those, who like Agur, are free from greed and satisfied with what God has given them. See also Philippians 4:11–12, Hebrews 13:5, and 1 Timothy 6:8.
7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: