| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 Whoso is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoso is hating reproof [is] brutish. |
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| 2 The good bringeth forth favour from Jehovah, And the man of wicked devices He condemneth. |
A good man – Let each ask himself, Are the purposes of my heart all pure and upright? R1520:2
Obtaineth favour – A constant sense of the Lord's favor. R1520:2
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| 3 A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved. |
Shall not be moved – Because rooted and grounded in the principles of righteousness. R1520:2
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| 4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame. |
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| 5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked deceit. |
Are right – They stray not into forbidden paths. R1520:2
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| 6 The words of the wicked [are]: 'Lay wait for blood,' And the mouth of the upright delivereth them. |
Words of the wicked – Perverse doctrines to overthrow the faith of the righteous. R1520:2
Mouth of the upright – Ever ready to defend the righteous against the snares of the wicked. R1520:2
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| 7 Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous standeth. |
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| 8 According to his wisdom is a man praised, And the perverted of heart becometh despised. |
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| 9 Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread. |
And hath a servant – Laboreth for himself. R1520:5
Honoureth himself – Aimeth after honor. R1520:5
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| 10 The righteous knoweth the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel. |
Regardeth . . . beast – Extends his tender mercies also to the lower creation. R1520:5
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| 11 Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart, |
Tilleth his land – The true child of God is no idler or visionary dreamer. R1520:5
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| 12 The wicked hath desired the net of evil doers, And the root of the righteous giveth. |
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| 13 In transgression of the lips [is] the snare of the wicked, And the righteous goeth out from distress. |
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| 14 From the fruit of the mouth [is] one satisfied [with] good, And the deed of man's hands returneth to him. |
The recompence – Every act will meet its just deserts in due time. R1520:5
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| 15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoso is hearkening to counsel [is] wise. |
In his own eyes – Whoever succeeds in justifying himself in a wrong course finds the downward path easy and retracing his steps almost impossible. R1520:5
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| 16 The fool in a day is his anger known, And the prudent is covering shame. |
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| 17 Whoso uttereth faithfulness declareth righteousness, And a false witness deceit. |
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| 18 A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
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| 19 The lip of truth is established for ever, And for a moment a tongue of falsehood. |
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| 20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, And to those counselling peace [is] joy. |
Of peace – "God has called us to peace." (1 Cor. 7:15) R2946:3
Is joy – "He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men." (Rom. 14:18) R2947:4
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| 21 No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil. |
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| 22 An abomination to Jehovah [are] lying lips, And stedfast doers [are] his delight. |
Lying lips – Hypocrisy is deceit in action and to deceive another is lying in one of its most unworthy forms. R4318:6
That deal truly – The principle of truth is honesty--in our words, conduct and thoughts. R4318:5
If we must charge Jacob in securing the birthright with lying lips we can at least credit him with honesty of heart. He lied to secure justice, and because his faith was not strong enough to trust the Lord implicitly. R3955:5
We should have even more faith: that the Lord will deal truly, to give us the blessings he has promised. R3955:6
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| 23 A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaimeth folly. |
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| 24 The hand of the diligent ruleth, And slothfulness becometh tributary. |
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| 25 Sorrow in the heart of a man boweth down, And a good word maketh him glad. |
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| 26 The righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causeth them to err. |
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| 27 The slothful roasteth not his hunting, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious. |
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| 28 In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death! |
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