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Expanded Comments |
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1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction;
But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
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2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth;
But the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.
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3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul;
But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
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Keepeth his mouth – All our words are taken by the Lord as an index of our hearts. R1938:1
Shall have destruction – What a fearful responsibility attaches to the tongue that wags in an evil or flippant way, dishonoring God. R1938:1
"By thy words thou wilt be acquitted, and by thy words thou wilt be condemned." (Matt. 12:37) R1937:1
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4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
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5 A righteous man hateth lying;
But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
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6 Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way;
But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
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7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:
There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
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8 The ransom of a man’s soul is his riches;
But the poor heareth no threatening.
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9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth;
But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
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10 By pride cometh only contention;
But with the well-advised is wisdom.
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11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished;
But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
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12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;
But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
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The heart sick – To those who do not exercise proper faith, the trials by the way and the disappointments are most discouraging. R4048:1 Proverbs 13:15
Is hard – Though following the line of least resistance seems easiest, this is only a vain delusion. Q800:4
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13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself;
But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
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14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
That one may depart from the snares of death.
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15 Good understanding giveth favor;
But the way of the transgressor is hard.
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16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge;
But a fool flaunteth his folly.
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17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil;
But a faithful ambassador is health.
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18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction;
But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
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19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul;
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
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20 Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise;
But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
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With wise men – In every enterprise of life we should seek counsel--the wisdom that cometh from above that is "first pure, then peaceable, easy to entreatment and full of mercy and good fruits." (Jas. 3:17) R4723:4
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21 Evil pursueth sinners;
But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
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22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children;
And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
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23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor;
But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
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24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son;
But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
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That spareth his rod – Neglects to use it when necessary to enforce the rules of love. F524
The homes of the New Creatures should be ruled by love, not the rod. When used, the rod should be wielded by the hand of love, never by the hand of anger. F524
The rod of discipline may be in the form of the denial of a kiss, or the withholding of supper or some other comfort or luxury. F525
"Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psa. 23:4) Q54:4
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25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul;
But the belly of the wicked shall want. |
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