21 Under three things the earth quakes,
And under four, it cannot endure:
22 Under a (A)slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
And a female servant when she dispossesses her mistress.

24 Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
25 The (B)ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The (C)rock hyraxes are not a mighty people,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in (D)ranks;
28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

29 There are three things which are stately in their march,
Even four which are stately when they walk:
30 The lion, which is (E)mighty among animals
And does not [a](F)retreat from anything,
31 The [b]strutting rooster or the male goat,
And a king when his army is with him.

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have plotted evil, (G)put your hand on your mouth.
33 For the [c]churning of milk produces butter,
And pressing the nose produces blood;
So the [d]churning of (H)anger produces strife.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:30 Lit turn back
  2. Proverbs 30:31 Lit girt in the loins
  3. Proverbs 30:33 Lit pressing
  4. Proverbs 30:33 Lit pressing

21 “Under three things the earth trembles,
    under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king,(A)
    a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
23 a contemptible woman who gets married,
    and a servant who displaces her mistress.

24 “Four things on earth are small,
    yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
    yet they store up their food in the summer;(B)
26 hyraxes(C) are creatures of little power,
    yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts(D) have no king,
    yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
    yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
    four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
    who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
    and a king secure against revolt.[a]

32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,
    or if you plan evil,
    clap your hand over your mouth!(E)
33 For as churning cream produces butter,
    and as twisting the nose produces blood,
    so stirring up anger produces strife.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:31 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.