4 Maccabees 14:17-19

Common English Bible

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? ¹⁹ When it is time to build their hive, even the bees defend themselves against those who come too close. They sting like an iron dart anyone who comes near the hive, and fight even to the death.