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1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah;
But a just weight is his delight.
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A false balance – This balancing applies as truly to mental as to physical dealings with others. R4514:6
A just weight – Not only by squaring every act and word with strictest justice, but bringing "every thought into subjection to the will of God." (2 Cor. 10:5) R4514:6
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2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame;
But with the lowly is wisdom.
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3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them;
But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
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4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath;
But righteousness delivereth from death.
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5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way;
But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
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6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;
But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
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7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish;
And the hope of iniquity perisheth.
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8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble,
And the wicked cometh in his stead.
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9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor;
But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
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10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth;
And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
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11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
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12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom;
But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
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13 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets;
But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.
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A faithful spirit – Ruach, disposition, mind. E318
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14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;
But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
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15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it;
But he that hateth suretyship is secure.
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He that is surety – by endorsing notes or going on a bond. F568
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16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor;
And violent men obtain riches.
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17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul;
But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
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18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages;
But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
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A sure reward – Future rewards. R723:4, R 2613:6
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19 He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life;
And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.
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20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah;
But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
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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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21 Though hand join to hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;
But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
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Hand join in hand – The tendency to unity is an artificial one and efforts in that direction are made for policy's sake. R1548:4
If the world's multitudes say, Come, join our fraternity and band together with us to fight for our rights, the upright will say No! R1875:5
Saying, "in union there is strength." R1548:4
Not be unpunished – But the wrath of God is always just and tempered with mercy. R2613:2
Seed of the righteous – We should train our children that, when the trouble comes, they will counsel others to righteousness and the avoidance of carnal warfare. R1963:6
Shall be delivered – Unless they need the purging, the Lord will permit the glorified Church to care for their children during the great time of trouble. R1963:5
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22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a fair woman that is without discretion.
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23 The desire of the righteous is only good;
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
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24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;
And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.
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That scattereth – By hospitality and liberality. R2856:6
Christlikeness implies not only a desire to be helpful to the groaning creation, but the effort to assist them, even at the cost of earthly comforts. R2857:1
There will always be opportunities to spend this world's goods for spiritual food for the famishing ones fleeing out of Babylon. R1593:5
Though bringing forth fruit only in good hearts, we are yet preaching the good tidings to all willing to hear. R1023:6
One-day and general conventions are not a waste of money that could have been used otherwise. R3877:6, R3856:2
And yet increaseth – As we give out to others our own store of blessing is increased. R5720:5
Sometimes in natural things; always in spiritual. F344
That withholdeth – As the neglect of tithes by Israel led to empty granaries and lean flocks, our neglect to render our all in full consecration results in loss to us. R2485:6, R2486:5
In the case of the house of sons, not merely one tenth, but everything is consecrated, and all is to be used as opportunity indicates. F345
More than is meet – The degree of our prosperity should be the measure of our charity. R5927:4, R2857:1
If one has kept anything back he did not make a full consecration, and may be sure he has not been fully accepted by the Lord. F345
Those who have not the love that leads them to respond with gratitude have not the condition of heart which the Lord loves. R2500:5
The Lord's followers are to be prudent, economical; but not miserly, stingy, penurious. R3877:6, R3504:2; F344
Tendeth to poverty – Sometimes to financial; always to spiritual. F344
Poverty of soul as well as poverty of purse. R3877:5
It is not always those who fight most strenuously for their rights who fare the best, even in this world. R3738:4
Cases of absolute privation may mean that one, when possessed of means, failed to use a portion in charity, in the Lord's service. R5927:3
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25 The liberal soul shall be made fat;
And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
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Liberal soul – Generous--not merely in earthly matters, but especially in their hearts, minds and thoughts--benevolent and kindly. R3939:3
Like Christ, desirous of sharing temporal or spiritual favors with others, particularly with the "household of faith." R2212:5
The congregations of Macedonia did not stop with money, but gave themselves in service to God's cause, thus receiving great spiritual blessings. R1594:1
In practicing liberality we are developing Godlikeness. R2857:1, R5927:2
Spending for the spiritual welfare of themselves and others. R3856:2
Made fat – Spiritually. R1594:4
We learn from the "widow's mite" that the Lord measures not the amount but the spirit prompting the gift, granting spiritual "fatness" accordingly. R5927:3
"He that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2Cor. 9:6) R2212:1
He that watereth – In telling the message of his grace we shall grow spiritually ourselves. R4244:2, R5720:3, R5978:4
Those most active in serving the truth to others are amongst the most blessed. R4244:2
To the extent we exercise a spirit of benevolence in giving, like our Heavenly Father, we are likely to have a special blessing. R5409:4, R3377:6
Great blessing results from liberality in the Lord's cause. R5927:2 Proverbs 11:28
Righteous shall flourish – During the Millennium the Prince of Life will use only the pure, holy, reverent and godly. OV91:1
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26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him;
But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
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27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor;
But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.
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28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;
But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
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29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;
And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
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30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
And he that is wise winneth souls.
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Tree of life – A righteous life, of whose virtue others may partake and live. R1520:5
Winneth souls – Whose wise and righteous course in life becomes an incentive to righteousness in others. R1520:5
Away from the path of sin and ungodliness; to righteousness, peace, faith and trust in God. R1520:5
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31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth:
How much more the wicked and the sinner! |
In the earth – The Bible purgatory will be established in the earth. R1469:4
Much more – "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear." (1 Pet. 4:18) R2053:2
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