| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger. |
A soft answer – A kind and gentle answer may be helpful; turn away anger. R4009:4
Not only as good policy, but as the fruitage of the holy Spirit. R2325:4
The harder the truth, the more softly it should be spoken. R2325:4
This advice is nowhere more needed than in most home circles. R2325:5
Any other answer is incompatible with the spirit of love. R2325:4
Turneth away wrath – Neglect of this command is the cause of a large proportion of domestic infelicity. R2241:3
Grievous words – Strifeful, cutting, sarcastic words. R4009:4
Stir up anger – Stirring up difficulties which will become agents of retributive justice. R4805:3, R1938:3
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| 2 The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge good, And the mouth of fools uttereth folly. |
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| 3 In every place are the eyes of Jehovah, Watching the evil and the good. |
Eyes of the LORD – The intelligence of Jehovah. R5209:3
The Lord's influence, his power of knowing, whatever the means; not that God beholds every act of every person. R5634:2
In every place – The nearest suggestion of God's omnipresence contained in the Scriptures. R5209:3
Every man has a present responsibility according to the measure of light enjoyed, whether it be light of nature or of revelation. A145
So we should let our children feel that our eye and God's is ever upon them, just as we feel that God's eye is upon us. R1097:5*
Beholding – Supervising all things. R1778:6
Evil and the good – "God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." (Eccl. 12:14) R722:2, R1653:3, R2612:6; A145
God's knowledge of all conditions is not out of harmony with the fact that he permits things which he disapproves. R5209:6
Since the Lord's beholding of evil and good is unquestioned; since his ability to interfere is undoubtedly true; and that he has not yet interfered is manifest; then it is proper to say that God is permitting sin. R1778:6, R1270:3
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| 4 A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it a breach in the spirit. |
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| 5 A fool despiseth the instruction of his father, And whoso is regarding reproof is prudent. |
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| 6 [In] the house of the righteous [is] abundant strength, And in the increase of the wicked trouble. |
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| 7 The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools [is] not right. |
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| 8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to Jehovah, And the prayer of the upright [is] His delight. |
His delight – Since we were created for the divine pleasure (Rev. 4:11), being responsive to God's goodness institutes a lively and delightful fellowship with him. R2031:3
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| 9 An abomination to Jehovah [is] the way of the wicked, And whoso is pursuing righteousness He loveth. |
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| 10 Chastisement [is] grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth. |
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| 11 Sheol and destruction [are] before Jehovah, Surely also the hearts of the sons of men. |
Hell – Sheol, oblivion, death, not torment. R2599:4; E367
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| 12 A scorner loveth not his reprover, Unto the wise he goeth not. |
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| 13 A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten. |
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| 14 The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly. |
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| 15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, And gladness of heart [is] a perpetual banquet. |
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| 16 Better [is] a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it. |
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| 17 Better [is] an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it. |
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| 18 A man of fury stirreth up contention, And the slow to anger appeaseth strife. |
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| 19 The way of the slothful [is] as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up. |
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| 20 A wise son rejoiceth a father. And a foolish man is despising his mother. |
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| 21 Folly is joy to one lacking heart, And a man of intelligence directeth [his] going. |
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| 22 Without counsel [is] the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established. |
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| 23 Joy [is] to a man in the answer of his mouth, And a word in its season how good! |
Spoken In due season – Perhaps a word of counsel, a word of reproof, or a word of instruction. R4663:2
As by the leader of a testimony meeting, offering encouragement or counsel in response to testimonies presented. F322
You can do ten times as much with a good word at the right time as you can with the right word at the wrong time. Q615:T
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| 24 A path of life [is] on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath. |
Is above – Upward, toward righteousness. E367
That he may depart – May be delivered by resurrection power. E367
From hell beneath – From sheol, oblivion, death, not torment. E367
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| 25 The house of the proud Jehovah pulleth down, And He setteth up the border of the widow. |
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| 26 An abomination to Jehovah [are] thoughts of wickedness, And pure [are] sayings of pleasantness.
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| 27 A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth. |
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| 28 The heart of the righteous meditateth to answer, And the mouth of the wicked uttereth evil things. |
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| 29 Far [is] Jehovah from the wicked, And the prayer of the righteous He heareth. |
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| 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, A good report maketh fat the bone. |
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| 31 An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise. |
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| 32 Whoso is refusing instruction is despising his soul, And whoso is hearing reproof Is getting understanding. |
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| 33 The fear of Jehovah [is] the instruction of wisdom, And before honour [is] humility! |
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