| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth. |
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| 2 A fool delighteth not in understanding, But in uncovering his heart. |
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| 3 With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame reproach. |
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| 4 Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook. |
A flowing brook – Drinking of water represents appropriation of the truth, namely wisdom. R2935:1
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| 5 Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment. |
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| 6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth. |
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| 7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul. |
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| 8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart. |
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 remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer. |
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| 10 A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high. |
And is safe – "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." (Psa. 55:3) R2038:6
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| 11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination. |
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| 12 Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility. |
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| 13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame. |
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| 14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear |
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| 15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. |
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| 16 The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him. |
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| 17 Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him. |
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| 18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth. |
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| 19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace. |
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| 20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied. |
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| 21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit. |
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| 22 [Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah. |
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| 23 [With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things. |
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| 24 A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more 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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