16. the grave and a barren womb,a land never filled with water,and fire that doesn’t say, “Enough!”
17. An eye that mocks a fatherand rejects obedience to a mother,may the ravens of the river valley peck it out,and the eagle’s young eat it.
18. Three things are too wonderful for me,four that I can’t figure out:
19. the way of an eagle in the sky,the way of a snake on the rock,the way of a ship out on the open sea,and the way of a man with a young woman.
20. This is the way of an adulterous woman:she eats and wipes her mouth,and she says, "I’ve done nothing wrong!"
21. At three things the earth trembles,at four it can’t bear up:
22. at a servant when he becomes kingand fools when they are full of food;
23. at a detested woman when she gets marriedand a female servant when she replaces her mistress.
24. Four things are among the smallest on earth,but they are extremely wise:
25. Ants as creatures aren’t strong,but they store away their food in the summer.
26. Badgers as creatures aren’t powerful,but they make their homes in the rocks.