Proverbs 17

“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” Naming Better keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fining, furnace, gold. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.” The line’s distinctive content terms include giveth, doer, false. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Naming Children keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.” Naming Excellent keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include eyes, gift, precious. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” The line’s distinctive content terms include covereth, friends, love. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” The number hundred makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bear, folly, fool. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include abomination, both, condemneth. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?” 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.

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” The line’s distinctive content terms include adversity, born, brother. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.” The line’s distinctive content terms include becometh, friend, hands. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.” The line’s distinctive content terms include loveth, destruction, exalteth. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.” The line’s distinctive content terms include falleth, findeth, froward. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fool, begetteth, doeth. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bones, broken, doeth. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bosom, gift, judgment. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” Naming Wisdom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bare, bitterness, father. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.” Naming Also keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” The line’s distinctive content terms include excellent, knowledge, spareth. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of…” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.