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Expanded Comments |
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1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,
And rageth against all sound wisdom.
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2 A fool hath no delight in understanding,
But only that his heart may reveal itself.
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3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,
And with ignominy cometh reproach.
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4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
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A flowing brook – Drinking of water represents appropriation of the truth, namely wisdom. R2935:1
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5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good,
Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
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6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calleth for stripes.
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7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
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8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
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Are as wounds – Harsh words leave a trace that kind words cannot quite efface. R5100:5*
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9 He also that is slack in his work
Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
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10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
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And is safe – "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." (Psa. 55:3) R2038:6
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11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And as a high wall in his own imagination.
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12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;
And before honor goeth humility.
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13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,
It is folly and shame unto him.
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14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
But a broken spirit who can bear?
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15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;
And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
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16 A man’s gift maketh room for him,
And bringeth him before great men.
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17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;
But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
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18 The lot causeth contentions to cease,
And parteth between the mighty.
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19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city;
And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
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20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
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21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
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22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,
And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
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23 The poor useth entreaties;
But the rich answereth roughly.
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24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;
But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. |
A friend – True friendship is a rare flower on our sin-cursed earth. R1907:3
"One there is above all others, well deserves the name of friend"--our Lord Jesus. R3233:1
Closer than a brother – There are two planes of friendship: a natural plane on which men of two like natural qualities would be drawn together; and a spiritual plane drawing still more closely those alike in spiritual hopes. R3233:4
True and lasting friendship can exist only between unselfish souls whose wills are fully submitted to the will of God. R1908:4
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