Proverbs 30:21
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
American King James Version (AKJV)
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
American Standard Version (ASV)
For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, which it cannot bear:
Basic English Translation (BBE)
For three things the earth is moved, and there are four which it will not put up with:
Webster's Revision
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
World English Bible
"For three things the earth tremble, and under four, it can't bear up:
English Revised Version (ERV)
For three things the earth doth tremble, and for four, which it cannot bear:
Clarke's Proverbs 30:21 Bible Commentary
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear - This is another enigma. Four things insupportable to men. 1. A slave, when he becomes ruler. 2. An overfed fool. 3. An ill-tempered woman, when mistress of a family. And, 4. A servant maid, when the rule of the house is committed to her.
1. A slave, when he comes to bear rule, is an unprincipled tyrant. It has been often observed both in America and in the West Indies, when it was judged necessary to arm some of the most confidential slaves, that no regiments were used so cruelly in the drill, etc., as those black regiments that had black officers.
2. The overfed fool. The intellectually weak man, who has every thing at his command, has generally manners which none can bear; and, if a favourite with his master, he is insupportable to all others.
3. An ill-tempered woman, when she gets embarrassed with domestic cares, is beyond bearing.
4. A servant maid, when, either through the death of the mistress, or the sin of the husband, she is in fact exalted to be head over the family, is so insolent and impudent, as to be hateful to every one, and execrated by all.
Barnes's Proverbs 30:21 Bible Commentary
For four which it cannot bear - Better: four it cannot bear. Here the common element is that of being intolerable, and the four examples are divided equally between the two sexes. Each has its examples of power and prosperity misused because they fall to the lot of those who have no training for them, and are therefore in the wrong place.
Wesley's Proverbs 30:21 Bible Commentary
30:21 Four - Which are intolerable in human societies.