Proverbs 30:21-33 ▼

21 Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up:

22 Under 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 maidservant when she supplants her mistress.

24 Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

25 The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

26 The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in 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 mighty among beasts And does not retreat before any,

31 The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And a king [when his] army is with him.

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted [evil], [put your] hand on your mouth.

33 For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.