Ecclesiastes 10

1 Three things are hard to me, and the fourth I am utterly ignorant of. 2 There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that walketh happily: 3 Such also is the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth and wipeth her mouth, and saith: I have done no evil. 4 By three things the earth is disturbed, and the fourth it cannot bear. 5 By a slave when he reigneth: by a fool when be is filled with meat: 6 By an odious woman when she is married: and by a bondwoman when she is heir to her mistress. 7 There are four very little things of the earth, and they are wiser than the wise. 8 The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the harvest: 9 The rabbit, a weak people, which maketh its bed in the rock: 10 The locust hath no king, yet they all go out by their bands: 11 The stellio supporteth itself on hands, and dwelleth in kings’ houses. 13 A lion, the strongest of beasts, who hath no fear of any thing he meeteth: 14 A cock girded about the loins: and a ram: and a king, whom none can resist. 15 There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his mouth. 16 And he that strongly squeezeth the paps to bring out milk, straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth out blood: and he that provoketh wrath, bringeth forth strife. 18 The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him. 19 What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows? 20 Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.