The Fox and the Hunter's Snare

Proverbs 1: 17-19

In a quiet forest clearing, a cunning fox named Vex roamed, always on the lookout for his next meal. One morning, he noticed a shiny net glimmering in the sunlight, carefully spread across the ground. Beside it lay a basket of plump, juicy berries.

"What a strange sight," Vex muttered to himself, sniffing the air. "No berries grow here, and this net is no accident."

As he circled the trap, a magpie perched on a nearby tree called out, "Careful, fox! That net is a hunter's snare. The berries are just bait."

Vex chuckled, his sharp eyes glinting with confidence. "Do you take me for a fool, bird? I see the trap clearly. But I am no ordinary prey—I am clever enough to take the berries and escape unscathed."

With that, Vex crept closer, watching the net's edges as he gingerly reached out with his paw. Just as he plucked a berry from the pile, the net snapped shut, tightening around him in an instant. He yelped and thrashed, but the more he struggled, the tighter the trap became.

High in the tree, the magpie shook her head. "Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird, but it seems not all creatures are wise enough to heed the warning."

Hours later, the hunter arrived and found Vex tangled and weary. "A fox caught by greed," the hunter mused. "If only you had left well enough alone."

Moral

"Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird." (Proverbs 1:17)
Greed blinds even the sharpest minds, leading them to their own downfall.