Verses 24-28 form the fifth numerical saying in this collection.

All four items in this sequence are living creatures that are small in size but have special wisdom or skills. “Four remarkable small creatures” is the title given to this saying by Scott. There is no reference to human life, but the saying may intend to suggest that “success is not confined to bigness” (Toy).

“Four things on earth are small”: The beginning of this saying is not the usual “three . . . four. . .” formula. “On earth” simply means “in this world”; the expression may be unnecessary in some languages.

“But they are exceedingly wise”: This line is parallel with the first line but makes a contrast with it. “But” indicates that what follows is not what we might expect: even though the creatures are small, they are wise. The Hebrew expression is literally “wise trained in wisdom,” which other versions render as “extremely wise” (New International Version) or “very, very clever” (Good News Translation). The Septuagint has “wiser than the wise,” which is followed by Revised English Bible “wise beyond the wisest” and both Scott and New Jerusalem Bible “the wisest of the wise.” In translation there may not be much difference between these; Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, however, recommends following the Hebrew text (“B” rating).

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .