| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. |
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| 2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
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| 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. |
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| 4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. |
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| 5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. |
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| 6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. |
Findeth it not – "God resisteth the proud" (Jas. 4:6); does not reveal his plan to such. R3337:2
Easy unto him – In coming to God's Word it is always important to remember that our attitude should be that of the disciple and not of the teacher. R3337:1
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| 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. |
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| 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. |
Fools – Teachers of Evolution. OV86:3
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| 9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. |
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| 10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. |
Knoweth his own – Nephesh, soul, sentient being. E334
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| 11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. |
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| 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. |
There is a way – "The broad way that leadeth to destruction." (Matt. 7:13, 14) CR496:4.
The way of selfishness, the way of the world. SM162:2, SM156:1
Human judgment would be unreliable even if supported by absolute knowledge. R3241:1
The way of selfishness, which has prevailed for 6,000 years; the natural way, approved by the standards of the world for centuries. SM162:2
Trusting to an outward form of godliness, being religious as a mark of respectability, attending the house of God because it is fashionable. R5849:5*
The gospel of Satan, tacitly acknowledging the great doctrines of Christianity, but with erroneous interpretation and application. R5849:1*
The Jews, although they thought they had found way to life in the Law, found it to be a way to death. CR500:5
Which seemeth right – Because all of Adam's children have been "born in sin and shapen in iniquity." (Psa. 51:5) CR496:2
Reasoning, "Life is to be enjoyed" and it is their duty to enjoy it. CR500:6
The ways of the world are those which they think right. CR496:1; CR500:1
The world has been trying, and trying hard, to see what they can do in the way of bringing in a good government. CR502:2
Difficult to discern, because long-cultivated sentiments sway our judgment. R1656:4
Presented in such plausible language that it appeals to the emotions; and in such a subtle manner that it commends itself to the intelligence. R5849:1*
If the heart be wrong the head will seek to justify it, and in so doing will pervert judgment and truth. R2038:2
We do not know how to do our own thinking. We must do what the Lord tells us to do through his Word. CR496:5
Unto a man – Because blinded by his own perverse will or fleshly mind. R2038:2
The end thereof – Where the subject of delusion is of vital interest. R2274:3
Many, for a time beguiled into an error of doctrine or practice, may yet be recovered from the snare of the Adversary. R1239:6
The ways of death – The Second Death. SM165:T; R5849:5*
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| 13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. |
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| 14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. |
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| 15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. |
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| 16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. |
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| 17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. |
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| 18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. |
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| 19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. |
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| 20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. |
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| 21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. |
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| 22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. |
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| 23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. |
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| 24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. |
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| 25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. |
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| 26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. |
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| 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. |
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| 28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. |
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| 29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. |
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| 30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. |
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| 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. |
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| 32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. |
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| 33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. |
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| 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. |
Exalteth a nation – Even though the kingdoms of this world are not the kingdom of the Lord, this principle prevails. R3399:5
Mankind will learn this when the Prince of Life has put in force the laws of righteousness and equity with an iron rule. A303; R726:1
History confirms that even now in proportion as a nation conforms to principles of righteousness and justice, it is exalted. R3399:5
We may well be astonished to see to what extent the influence of the righteous exercises a preservative influence upon the nations. R3399:5
Nevertheless, it is still true that prosperity is injurious in proportion as it separates the people from the divine arrangements. R4729:6
But sin is a reproach – Every evil course seems to be the misdirection of a good quality, as the war spirit of combativeness and destructiveness. R2641:3
Sin is constitutional derangement requiring continual effort to not slide backward. Thus, some heathen, not helped by the Lord, reached the lower depths of degradation. R3598:6
God will eventually bring home to each member of our race valuable lessons along this line. R5233:5
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| 35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. |
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