“The locusts have no king”: Where “locusts” are unknown, translators may consider some other form of grasshopper or even some other unrelated insect. The important feature of “locusts” in this context is that they move together in great swarms. In this context a “king” is someone who leads or commands his people. It may also be translated “chief,” “commander,” or “leader.”

“Yet all of them march in rank”: This is how they show their wisdom. Although there is no leader, they are able to move together like an army. For a vivid description of locusts as an army, see Joel chapter 2. The way they move may also be expressed as “they move in formation” (Good News Translation), “they all march in good order” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “march like an army” (Contemporary English Version). One Pacific translation says, “When they move, they move together like soldiers.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .