The book of Proverbs is full of ancient wisdom. Traditionally ascribed to David and Solomon, they are a collection of sayings ranging from deeply spiritual to cheerfully practical. Some of them sound as though were created by spiritual teachers, while others sound as if they are drawn straight from village life.

Many of them draw on the natural world to make their point. Here are 10 which take their lessons from the animal kingdom.

Ants

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest (6:6-8).

Bears

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly (17:12).

Lions

A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favour is like dew on the grass (19:12).

The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! or, "I will be murdered in the streets!" (22:13).

Lions and bears

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people (28:15).

Snakes

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup,when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper (23: 31-32).

Birds

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest (26:2)

Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home (27:8).

Dogs

Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own (26:17).

Eagles and snakes

There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky,the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden (30: 18-19).

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