Wise words are more valuable
than much gold and many rubies.
Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

Proverbs 20:15-16

To learn, you must love discipline;it is stupid to hate correction. 
Proverbs 12:1

• Parallelism: The key to understanding couplets in Proverbs is the concept of parallelism. This means that the two lines are related to each other in some way, rather than being independent statements. 
• Synonymous Parallelism: The second line restates or reinforces the idea in the first line, often using different wording. 
• Antithetic Parallelism: The second line contrasts or opposes the idea in the first line, highlighting the difference between good and bad choices. 
• Synthetic Parallelism: The second line completes the thought in the first line, providing a more complete picture or explanation. 
• Couplets: A couplet is a unit of two lines of poetry ‍
• Contrastive: The second line contrasts with the first, often using words like "but" or "yet" to show a difference in perspective or outcome. ‍
• Synonymous: The second line repeats or expands on the meaning of the first line, using similar words or phrases. ‍
• Antithetic: The second line opposes the first line, often highlighting the difference between wise and foolish choices. ‍
• Motivational: The second line explains the reason or consequence of the first line, motivating the reader to act wisely. ‍
• Proverbs 10:1: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. (ESV) (Antithetic) ‍
• Proverbs 13:20: Walk with wise men, and you will be wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (NIV)  (Motivational) ‍
• Proverbs 19:29: Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools. (KJV) (Synonymous) ‍
• Teach Wisdom: Proverbs use couplets to teach wisdom and guide readers toward virtuous behavior. ‍
• Highlight Consequences: They emphasize the positive and negative consequences of different choices, encouraging readers to make wise decisions. ‍
• Memorization and Retention: The short, memorable format of couplets helps readers remember and internalize the lessons they contain. ‍
• Focus on General Principles: Proverbs often present general principles about life, not specific guarantees, acknowledging that life is complex and exceptions can occur. 

Remember that in essence, the couplets in Proverbs are a powerful and effective way to convey timeless wisdom and practical guidelines for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. God gave us this gift of Proverbs to guide us!