19the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a maiden.

20“This is the way of an adulteress:

She eats and wipes her mouth

and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

21“Under three things the earth trembles,

under four it cannot bear up:

22a servant who becomes king,

a fool who is full of food,

23an unloved woman who is married,

and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.

24“Four things on earth are small,

yet they are extremely wise:

25Ants are creatures of little strength,

yet they store up their food in the summer;

26coneys^d are creatures of little power,

yet they make their home in the crags;

27locusts have no king,

yet they advance together in ranks;

28a 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:

30a lion, mighty among beasts,

who retreats before nothing;

31a strutting rooster, a he-goat,

and a king with his army around him.^e

32“If you have played the fool and exalted yourself,

or if you have planned evil,

clap your hand over your mouth!

33For as churning the milk produces butter,

and as twisting the nose produces blood,

so stirring up anger produces strife.”