Some Numbered Proverbs

Talks today often include numbered lists, but their organization is primarily logical. I enjoy the numbered lists in the Book of Proverbs because their organization is primarily poetic.

So recently, I tried writing some numbered proverbs of my own. 


Five things are heavy to be borne:
the expectations of a friend in need
the body of a sleeping child 
the shame of freshly shattered pride
the mass of possessions that gather in a house
and the burden placed on a bishop's heart


Four things are difficult to change:
the assumptions of a people
a reputation built up over time
a thoughtlessly-formed habit 
and an offended person's mind


Three things calm a woman who grinds teeth when she sleeps: 
an old debt finally settled
a child who takes a righteous spouse
and a silent answer to a cried-out prayer