15. Greedy people know only two things: “Give me,” and “Give me.” There are three other things that are never satisfied—really, four things that never have enough:
16. the place of death, a woman with no children, dry ground that needs rain, and a fire that will never stop by itself.
17. People who make fun of their father or refuse to obey their mother should have their eyes plucked out by wild birds and be eaten by vultures.
18. There are three things that are hard for me to understand—really, four things that I don’t understand:
19. an eagle flying in the sky, a snake moving on a rock, a ship moving across the ocean, and a man in love with a woman.
20. A woman who is not faithful to her husband acts innocent. She eats, wipes her mouth, and says she has done nothing wrong.
21. There are three things that make trouble on the earth—really, four that the earth cannot bear:
22. a slave who becomes a king, fools who have everything they need,
23. a woman whose husband hated her but still married her, and a servant girl who becomes ruler over the woman she serves.
24. There are four things on the earth that are small but very wise:
25. Ants are small and weak, but they save their food all summer;
26. badgers are small animals, but they make their homes in the rocks;
27. locusts have no king, but they are able to work together;