Proverbs 26

“As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fool, harvest, honour. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.” The line’s distinctive content terms include back, bridle, fool’s. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” Naming Answer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.” Naming Answer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cutteth, damage, drinketh. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” The line’s distinctive content terms include equal, fools, lame. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bindeth, fool, giveth. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drunkard, fools, goeth. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include returneth, folly, fool. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of 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 slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.” The line’s distinctive content terms include lion, slothful, streets. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include door, hinges, slothful. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bosom, grieveth, hand. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,” The line’s distinctive content terms include arrows, casteth, death. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?” 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.

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ceaseth, fire, goeth. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” The line’s distinctive content terms include coals, burning, contentious. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include belly, innermost, parts. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.” Naming Burning keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;” The line’s distinctive content terms include deceit, dissembleth, hateth. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” The line’s distinctive content terms include afflicted, flattering, hateth. Its relationship to verses 27 shows what work it does in this passage.