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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 My son, mine instruction, do not thou forget, and, my commandment, let thy heart observe; |
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 years of life, and blessedness, 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 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, let them not forsake thee,–bind them, upon thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy 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 find thou favour and good repute, in the eyes 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 thou in Yahweh, with all thy heart, and, unto thine own understanding, do not lean: |
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, will make straight 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 Do not become wise in thine own eyes, revere Yahweh, and avoid evil: |
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 Healing, shall it be to thy body, and refreshing, to thy bones. |
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| 9 Honour thou Yahweh, with thy substance, and with the firstfruit of all thine increase; |
With thy substance – Whether it be talent, education or influence. R2060:6
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| 10 So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and, with new wine, shall thy vats overflow. |
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 The, chastening of Yahweh, my son, do not reject, nor loathe his rebuke; |
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 Yahweh loveth, he correcteth, he causeth pain to 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 How happy the man who hath found wisdom, and the man who draweth forth 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 better is her merchandise, than the merchandise of silver, yea, than gold, her increase; |
Merchandise of silver – Truth. R2061:4
Fine gold – The divine nature. R2061:4
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| 15 More precious, is she, than corals, yea, none of thy delightful things, doth equal her: |
Rubies – Graces of character. R2061:4
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| 16 Length of days, is in her right hand, in her left, are 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 A tree of life, is she, to them who secure her,–and, they who hold her fast, are every one to be pronounced happy. |
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 Yahweh, in wisdom, founded the earth, establishing the heavens with understanding; |
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 resounding deeps were burst open, and, the skies, drop down dew. |
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| 21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes, guard thou counsel, and purpose: |
And discretion – Wise policy. R1520:4
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| 22 So shall they become life to thy soul, and an adorning to thy neck; |
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| 23 Then, shalt thou walk securely in thy way, 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 sittest down, thou shalt have no dread, yea thou shalt lie down, and sweet shall be thy sleep. |
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| 25 Be not thou afraid of sudden dread, nor of the desolation of the lawless, when it cometh. |
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| 26 For, Yahweh, will be in all thy ways, and will keep thy foot from the snare. |
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| 27 Withhold not good from them who ask it, when it is in power of thy 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 Do not say to thy neighbour, Go and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee. |
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| 29 Devise not against thy neighbour an injury, seeing that, he, dwelleth securely by thee. |
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| 30 Contend not with a man without cause, if he hath dealt thee no wrong. |
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| 31 Do not thou envy the man of violence, neither choose thou any of his ways; |
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| 32 For, an abomination to Yahweh, is the tortuous man, but, with the upright, he is intimate. |
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| 33 The curse of Yahweh, is in the house of the lawless one, but, the home of the righteous, he blesseth. |
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| 34 Though at scoffers he scoffeth, yet, to the humbled, he granteth favour. |
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 Honour, shall the wise inherit,–but, as for dullards, shame shall carry them away. |
Shall inherit glory – Counsels patient waiting for the rewards of righteousness. R1520:5
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