4 Maccabees 14:17-19

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁷ If they are not able to keep the intruder^[a] away, they do what they can to help their young by flying in circles around them in the anguish of love, warning them with their own calls. ¹⁸ And why is it necessary to demonstrate sympathy for children by the example of unreasoning animals, ¹⁹ since even bees at the time for making honeycombs defend themselves against intruders and, as though with an iron dart, sting those who approach their hive and defend it even to the death?