Logos Bible Study

Proverbs 30:21–23

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Four Intolerables

21–23Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,

yes, four things shake its foundations—

when the janitor becomes the boss,

when a fool gets rich,

when a whore is voted “woman of the year,”

when a “girlfriend” replaces a faithful wife.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Under three things the earth trembles;

under four it cannot bear up:

a slave when he becomes king,

and a fool when he is filled with food;

an unloved woman when she gets a husband,

and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Under three things the earth trembles,

under four it cannot bear up:

a servant who becomes king,

a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,

a contemptible woman who gets married,

and a servant who displaces her mistress.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The earth trembles under three things;

it cannot bear up under four:

a servant when he becomes king,

a fool when he is stuffed with food,

an unloved woman when she marries,

and a servant girl when she ousts her queen.

NLTNew Living Translation

There are three things that make the earth tremble—

no, four it cannot endure:

a slave who becomes a king,

an overbearing fool who prospers,

a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,

a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Under three things the earth trembles,

and under four, it is not able to bear up:

under a slave when he becomes king,

and a fool when he is satisfied with food;

under an unloved woman when she gets married,

and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.

KJV 1900King James Version

For three things the earth is disquieted,

And for four which it cannot bear:

For a servant when he reigneth;

And a fool when he is filled with meat;

For an odious woman when she is married;

And an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.