Furthermore, where space has permitted, the lines within each proverb have been broken down to reflect the thought rhyme. This aids interpretation, since the second line is often a commentary on the first line. The Three C s Old Testament poetry is different from modern poetry. It has no meter or rhyme. Instead, it is characterized by thought rhyme expressed in parallelism repeating the same thought in different words.
Most poetic verses have two lines and the second line restates the thought of the first.
Comparing the second line agrees or compares with the first line. The meaning and application of the proverb come from the similarities or comparison between the two statements. Chapters 25-27 are characterized by comparing parallelism and are called The Comparison Collection . Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke in the eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge.