Proverbs 8

“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” 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.

“She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.” Naming Unto keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fools, heart, simple. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.” The line’s distinctive content terms include find, knowledge, plain. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.” Naming Receive keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dwell, find, inventions. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” The line’s distinctive content terms include evil, hate, arrogancy. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” Naming Counsel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.” The line’s distinctive content terms include decree, justice, kings. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, judges, nobles. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.” Naming Riches keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gold, better, choice. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:” The line’s distinctive content terms include judgment, lead, midst. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beginning, LORD, possessed. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beginning, earth, everlasting. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abounding, depths, fountains. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:” The line’s distinctive content terms include hills, mountains, settled. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.” Naming While keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:” The line’s distinctive content terms include compass, depth, face. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:” The line’s distinctive content terms include clouds, deep, established. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations…” The line’s distinctive content terms include appointed, commandment, decree. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” Naming Rejoicing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blessed, children, hearken. Its relationship to verses 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD .” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” The line’s distinctive content terms include death, hate, love. Its relationship to verses 35 shows what work it does in this passage.