Proverbs 30:24 - Forerunner Commentary

Proverbs 30:24

22 ^aFor a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,

23 A¹ hateful woman when she is married,
And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

25 ^aThe ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

26 ^aThe¹ rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;

27 The locusts have no king,
Yet they all advance in ranks;

28 The¹ spider skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings’ palaces.

29 There are three things which are majestic in pace,
Yes, four which are stately in walk:

30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts
And does not turn away from any;

31 A¹ greyhound,
A male goat also,
And¹ a king whose troops are with him.

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have devised evil, ^aput your hand on your mouth.

33 For as the churning of milk produces butter,
And wringing the nose produces blood,
So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

Verse Comparison: Proverbs 30:24

American Standard Version
There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise:

Amplified® Bible
There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

Contemporary English Version
On this earth four things are small but very wise:

Darby English Version
There are four [things] little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise:

Good News Bible
There are four animals in the world that are small, but very, very clever:

King James Version
There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

New American Standard Bible
Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

New International Version
"Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:

New King James Version
There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Four things have small size on the earth, But they show exceeding wisdom:

Revised Standard Version
Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:

Young's Literal Translation
Four `are' little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:

New English Translation
There are four things on earth that are small,¹ but they are exceedingly wise:²