4 Maccabees 14:16-18

Common English Bible

¹⁶ Other birds build their nests on mountain peaks, in steep canyons, and in the holes of trees or treetops, so they can hatch the baby birds and stop anything from coming too close. ¹⁷ If they can’t stop something from coming too close, they do whatever they can to help their young. They fly in circles around their young driven by anguished love, warning their young with their calls. ¹⁸ But why is it necessary to demonstrate the fact that animals without understanding have sympathy for their young?