This Proverb says, “Under three things the earth quakes, and under four, it cannot 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 a husband, and a maid servant when she supplants her mistress.” This Proverb speaks about certain kinds of people who are unsuitable for advancement in life.
The first person is a slave who becomes king. This person is unlikely to be prepared for the role of king. The second person is a fool who gains many possessions. The Bible says that a fool is a person who doesn’t believe in God. If such a person gains much wealth and possessions, they will be more entrenched in their unbelief.
The third person is an unloved or hated woman who gets a husband. Such a person is probably hated because her bad behavior or character. This woman would probably be a terrible wife, producing much misery for her husband.
The fourth person is a maid who becomes the lady of the house. This person is similar to the slave who becomes a king. This person would likely be unprepared or unsuitable to become the lady in charge of the household.
The overriding theme of this Proverb is that a person must be prepared for assuming greater roles in life. Lack of preparation will likely lead to failure.
