Ecclesiastes 10

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in…” Naming Dead keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.” The line’s distinctive content terms include heart, fool’s, hand. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.” The line’s distinctive content terms include leave, offences, pacifieth. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:” The line’s distinctive content terms include error, evil, proceedeth. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.” Naming Folly keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include servants, earth, horses. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.” Naming Surely keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fool, gracious, lips. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beginning, foolishness, madness. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!” Naming Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not…” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.” The line’s distinctive content terms include building, decayeth, droppeth. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.” The line’s distinctive content terms include answereth, feast, laughter. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.