| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep, |
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, Life and peace they do 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 kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on 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 And find grace and good understanding 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 unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. |
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 know thou Him, And He doth 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 Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from 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 it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones. |
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| 9 Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase; |
With thy substance – Whether it be talent, education or influence. R2060:6
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| 10 And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth. |
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 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof, |
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 Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with. |
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 O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth 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, And than gold her increase. |
Merchandise of silver – Truth. R2061:4
Fine gold – The divine nature. R2061:4
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| 15 Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her. |
Rubies – Graces of character. R2061:4
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| 16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth 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 she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] 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 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by 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 depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew. |
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| 21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness, |
And discretion – Wise policy. R1520:4
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| 22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck. |
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| 23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth 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 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep. |
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| 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. |
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| 26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture. |
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| 27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God 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 thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee. |
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| 29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee. |
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| 30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil. |
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| 31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways. |
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| 32 For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel. |
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| 33 The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth. |
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| 34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace. |
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 do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame! |
Shall inherit glory – Counsels patient waiting for the rewards of righteousness. R1520:5
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