| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 My son, if thou dost accept my sayings, And my commands dost lay up with thee, |
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| 2 To cause thine ear to attend to wisdom, Thou inclinest thy heart to understanding, |
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| 3 For, if for intelligence thou callest, For understanding givest forth thy voice, |
Liftest up thy voice – Many who thus pray for knowledge do not seek it as "hid treasure," and therefore do not find it. R493:2*
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| 4 If thou dost seek her as silver, And as hid treasures searchest for her, |
If thou seekest her – Webster says that "in Scripture theology, wisdom is true religion," religion signifying "any system of faith and worship." R179:1*
Those who are so anxious for truth as to be willing to sacrifice other things to get it are the ones for whom God prepared it. R367:1
Some would rather be always unsettled than go to the necessary labor of "proving" by diligent study of the Scriptures what is good and what is erroneous. Such indifference will expose them to error. R651:6
Some, even amongst the Lord's friends, rebuke others for their earnestness in seeking truth, instead of encouraging it. R2730:4
As silver – Why is the Bible not more plain? Why is gold hid deep in the earth? It is a question of character. Desire, will, energy, determination and faithfulness will be rewarded. R24:4*
When found, silver has to be separated from materials, useful in themselves, but detracting from the value of the silver. So the child of God needs to "rightly divide the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15) R179:5*
What was necessary for our fathers to know of truth is not enough for us to know, any more than the supply of silver at the discovery of America was sufficient for the world at the present time. R179:4*
As for hid treasures – Why hidden? That it may not be found until needed. R179:2*
God has provided truth only for those who hunger and thirst after it. Many are too indifferent or too engrossed with money-getting and pleasure-seeking to dig for the truth. R1832:4
Miners have lights upon their heads and sometimes prostrate themselves in their search. We need to be humble and have our minds illuminated with the spirit. R179:5*
If you would find it you must be ever on the lookout. If you would see its beauty you must brush aside the weeds of error and the brambles of bigotry. If you would possess it you must stoop to get it. R9:1
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| 5 Then understandest thou fear of Jehovah, And knowledge of God thou findest. |
Understand – A duty to find out all Possible of God's "system of faith." R179:2*
Find the knowledge – The Lord will bless every real truth-seeker. For such alone truth was written, to such alone it will be revealed. R501:5
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| 6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom, From His mouth knowledge and understanding. |
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| 7 Even to lay up for the upright substance, A shield for those walking uprightly. |
Sound wisdom – Contrariwise, the spirit of devils produces the spirit of an unsound mind. R2185:2
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| 8 To keep the paths of judgment, And the way of His saints He preserveth. |
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| 9 Then understandest thou righteousness, And judgment, and uprightness every good path. |
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| 10 For wisdom cometh into thy heart, And knowledge to thy soul is pleasant, |
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| 11 Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee, |
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| 12 To deliver thee from an evil way, From any speaking froward things, |
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| 13 Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness, |
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| 14 Who are rejoicing to do evil, They delight in frowardness of the wicked, |
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| 15 Whose paths [are] crooked, Yea, they are perverted in their ways. |
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| 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings, |
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| 17 Who is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten. |
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| 18 For her house hath inclined unto death, And unto Rephaim her paths. |
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| 19 None going in unto her turn back, Nor do they reach the paths of life. |
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| 20 That thou dost go in the way of the good, And the paths of the righteous dost keep. |
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| 21 For the upright do inhabit the earth, And the perfect are left in it, |
For the upright – All who desire fellowship with God through Christ during the Millennial age. E30
Dwell In the land – Under the terms of the New covenant. E30
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| 22 And the wicked from the earth are cut off, And treacherous dealers plucked out of it! |
But the wicked – Who refuse the divine offer of reconciliation. E30
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