The list of proverbs stretches out, some so obvious they hardly need to be said, some more profound or even quirky. But together, they have a powerful effect.
The benefits of righteousness (continued)
Proverbs 11:7-11
The foolishness of quarrelling and wrongdoing
Proverbs 11:12-31
The wicked and the righteous
Proverbs 12:1-11
The wise ad the foolish
Proverbs 12:12-28
Watch your words
Proverbs 13:1-6
The rich and the poor
Proverbs 13:7-25
Contrast between wise and foolish
Proverbs 14:1-35
Wisdom the better way
Proverbs 15:1-19
Proverbs is getting into its Proverbial stride now - there is a rhythm to the proverbs and a cumulative effect. The proverbs scan like poetry, and follow the Hebrew trick of parallelism. As you read great chunks of them the sum of their meaning appears greater than its parts - each examines a tiny facet of its subject: wisdom versus foolishness, righteousness versus wickedness, laziness versus hard work. And together, like a mosaic, if you stand back and look from a distance, the picture forms.
Their subject and setting are homespun, but they have been crafted by one hand - made into a greater whole. Whether it was Solomon or someone else, the writer has collected vast quantities of little sayings and arranged them together to good effect.
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