Proverbs 30:22-28

The Message

Four Intolerables

^21-23Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,
yes, four things shake its foundations—

        when the janitor becomes the boss,
        when a fool gets rich,
        when a prostitute is voted “woman of the year,”
        when a “girlfriend” replaces a faithful wife.

Four Small Wonders

^24-28There are four small creatures,
wisest of the wise they are—

        ants—frail as they are,
            get plenty of food in for the winter;
        marmots—vulnerable as they are,
            manage to arrange for rock-solid homes;
        locusts—leaderless insects,
            yet they strip the field like an army regiment;
        lizards—easy enough to catch,
            but they sneak past vigilant palace guards.