Proverbs 25

“These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.” Naming Hezekiah and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.” The line’s distinctive content terms include depth, earth, heart. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:” Naming Put keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hastily, know, lest. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:” Naming Debate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.” Naming Lest keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” The line’s distinctive content terms include apples, fitly, gold. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gold, earring, fine. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cold, faithful, harvest. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.” Naming Whoso keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bone, breaketh, forbearing. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit 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.

“Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.” Naming Withdraw keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.” The line’s distinctive content terms include arrow, beareth, false. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” Naming Confidence keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cold, garment, heart. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, drink, enemy. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.” The line’s distinctive content terms include angry, backbiting, countenance. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.” The line’s distinctive content terms include better, brawling, corner. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cold, country, good. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.” The line’s distinctive content terms include corrupt, falling, fountain. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.” The line’s distinctive content terms include glory, good, honey. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” The line’s distinctive content terms include broken, city, rule. Its relationship to verses 27 shows what work it does in this passage.