| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: |
My son – "Wisdom is justified of her children." (Matt. 11:19) They show their parentage, reflect her likeness in physical as well as spiritual things. R2060:2
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| 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. |
For length of days – Due to a wise and moderate course in life, in obedience to the divine laws. R2060:2
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| 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: |
Let not mercy – Consideration for the failings and sufferings of others. R2060:3
Mercy includes all the graces of character. R5309:5
And truth – Sincerity, pureness and uprightness of dealing in all our affairs. R2060:3
Truth and righteousness are synonymous. R5309:1
The qualities of truth and mercy are in the divine character. R5309:3
About thy neck – As jewels and ornaments of character, manifest to all. R2060:3, R5309:2
It does not say to bind justice about our neck. Because there is none righteous, our course in respect to justice cannot be the same as that of our Heavenly Father. R5309:1
Write them – Re-write them. R5309:5
The work of re--writing the divine character in the heart is already begun in the Church, and will progress in the world during the Millennium. R5309:5, R2060:3
Of thine heart – In addition to the outward graces, deeply graven inward principles. R2060:3
Originally, God wrote the divine law in Adam's heart. R5309:3
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| 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. |
And man – Nobility of heart is acknowledged even by the children of darkness who would say all manner of evil falsely against the children of light. R2060:5
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| 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. |
Trust in the LORD – In order thus to trust, a knowledge of God's Word and plan of salvation are very important. R2060:5
Own understanding – As do some scientists who seek to find a theory by which a personal God will not be necessary. R2834:3
Our own judgments are unsafe; liable to seek wisdom in a wrong direction. R2262:3
Experience has taught the mature child of God the imperfection of his own judgment and the fallibility of all human counsel. R2060:5, CR498:5
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| 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. |
In all thy ways – The heart that is continually, in all of life's affairs, looking for divine direction is continually in a prayer attitude. No other condition is proper. R3806:1
Including giving thanks for meals. We advise the breaking together of spiritual manna at the same time as the partaking of earthly food. R4139:5
Acknowledge him – Before becoming entangled in multiplied cares, and thus hampered by the outcome of our own misguided course. R1554:2
Exemplified by Joseph's distinctly telling the king that the interpretations of the dreams came not from himself, but from God. R5216:6
We are not only to note divine providences, but also to give credit for them. R2894:1
Especially appropriate in the study of the divine Word and any attempt to give an interpretation thereof. R3978:6
It is in vain that any would attempt to serve the Lord and yet neglect to make request for his blessing and guidance. R4911:3, R3806 :1
Cultivate such a sense of his presence that you learn to speak to him, as well as of him, most freely and without embarrassment. R590:2*
He shall – The Lord is always faithful to those who put their trust in him and look for his leading. R1538:5
Direct thy paths – Not in ways most congenial to the fallen nature. R2060:5
We should go forward only as he leads us. R5712:1
If we are not clear as to his will, let us not be in too great a hurry, nor try to guide ourselves. R5712:1, R5807:5
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| 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
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In thine own eyes – Nothing is more dangerous to the child of God than self-conceit. "God resisteth the proud." (1 Pet. 5:5) R2060:6, R5186:1
Ambition is good, but only when it is based on humility. R5186:2
Depart from evil – The evil of our fallen estate. R2060:6 Proverbs 3:8
It shall be health – The promises of God's Word may not hinder pain, but will modify it and its frequency. R2083:6
"Health or vigor to thy muscles," figurative of general vitality of mind and body among the results of that proper reverence for the Lord which leads us to depart from sin in thought, word and deed. R2060:6
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| 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. |
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| 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: |
With thy substance – Whether it be talent, education or influence. R2060:6
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| 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. |
Filled with plenty – This applied (in the material sense) during the Jewish age and will apply again during the Millennial age. "In his days shall the righteous flourish." (Psa. 72:7) But does not apply during the Gospel age. R2060:6
If faithful in the use of our substance to the cause of God, a blessing will result to us. R2060:6
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| 11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: |
The chastening – Reproofs, trials, disciplines should be reminders to us that we are not perfect and still need the mercy of God in Christ. R2061:1
Of his correction – Do not consider the trials and difficulties of this present time as marks of divine disfavor. R2061:1
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| 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. |
He correcteth – God punishes for a wrong course, even though he restores one to his favor. PD43/53
Given as an inspired comment in Heb. 12:4-13. R1520:1, R1944:6
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| 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. |
That findeth wisdom – That attitude of heart and mind which fits us to receive the instruction of the Lord and profit by it. R1520:1
Perceives clearly the difference between right and wrong principles, and the propriety of following these. R2061:1
Understanding – Of whatever truth is meat in due season for them. R1520:1
The information and building up of judgment, character, based upon obedience to the voice of wisdom. R2061:4
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| 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. |
Merchandise of silver – Truth. R2061:4
Fine gold – The divine nature. R2061:4
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| 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. |
Rubies – Graces of character. R2061:4
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| 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. |
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| 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. |
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| 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. |
A tree of life – A reference to the restitution to the trees of life and the Edenic bliss of all who shall "lay hold upon" and "retain" that heavenly wisdom of meekness and entire submission to the will of God. R1520:4
Lay hold upon – Retain her. R1520:4
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| 19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. |
By wisdom – Pure, peaceable, merciful and kind. R1520:4
This accounts for the beneficent laws of nature so bountifully adapted to our necessities. R1520:4
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| 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. |
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| 21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: |
And discretion – Wise policy. R1520:4
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| 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. |
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| 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. |
Shall not stumble – The Lord will keep the feet of his people from being caught in the snares of the Adversary. R1520:4
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| 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. |
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| 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. |
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| 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. |
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| 27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. |
Withhold not good – This counsels fair dealing with our fellow-men. R1520:4
Power – Hebrew. El; signifying strong or powerful, frequently translated "god." R296:2
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| 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. |
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| 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. |
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| 30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. |
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| 31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. |
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| 32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. |
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| 33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. |
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| 34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. |
Scorneth the scorners – The self-seeking, the proud in spirit, cannot be entrusted by the Lord to a high position. R5414:6
The lowly – In conduct; but particularly, in mind. R2450:5
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| 35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. |
Shall inherit glory – Counsels patient waiting for the rewards of righteousness. R1520:5
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