| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
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| 1 A deceptive balance, is an abomination to Yahweh, but, a full weight, is his delight. |
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 contempt, but, with the modest, is wisdom. |
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| 3 The integrity of the upright, shall guide them, but, the crookedness of the treacherous, shall be their ruin. |
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| 4 Wealth, shall not profit, in the day of wrath, but, righteousness, shall deliver from death. |
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| 5 The righteousness of the blameless, shall smooth his way, but, by his own lawlessness, shall the lawless one, fall. |
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| 6 The righteousness of the upright, shall deliver them, but, by their own craving, shall the treacherous be captured. |
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| 7 When the lawless man dieth, his expectation, perisheth, and, the hope of strong men, hath vanished. |
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| 8 The righteous man, out of distress, is delivered, then cometh a lawless man into his place. |
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| 9 With the mouth, a profane man destroyeth his neighbour, but, through knowledge, shall righteous men be delivered. |
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| 10 When it is, well with the righteous, the city, exulteth, When the lawless perish, there is a shout of triumph. |
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| 11 When the upright are blessed, exalted is the city, but, by the mouth of the lawless, it is overthrown. |
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| 12 He that sheweth contempt for his neighbour, lacketh sense, but, a man of understanding, observeth silence. |
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| 13 He that goeth about talebearing, revealeth a secret, but, he that is faithful in spirit, concealeth a matter. |
A faithful spirit – Ruach, disposition, mind. E318
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| 14 With no guidance, a people will fall, but, safety, lieth in the greatness of the counselor. |
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| 15 He that becometh surety for a stranger, goeth to utter ruin, but, he that hateth striking hands, is secure. |
He that is surety – by endorsing notes or going on a bond. F568
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| 16 A gracious wife, obtaineth honour, but, the diligent, shall obtain wealth. |
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| 17 The man of lovingkindness, dealeth well with his own soul, but the cruel man, troubleth his own flesh. |
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| 18 The lawless man, earneth the wages of falsehood, but, he that soweth righteousness, hath the reward of fidelity. |
A sure reward – Future rewards. R723:4, R 2613:6
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| 19 A righteous son, [turneth] to life, but, he that pursueth wickedness, to his own death. |
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| 20 The abomination of Yahweh, are they of perverse heart, but, his delight, are the men of blameless life. |
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 Hand to hand, the wicked man shall not be held innocent, but, the seed of the righteous, hath been delivered. |
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 the snout of a swine, is a woman of beauty who hath abandoned discretion. |
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| 23 The desire of the righteous, is only good, the expectation of the lawless, is wrath. |
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| 24 There is who scattereth, and increaseth yet more, and who withholdeth of what is due, only to come to want. |
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 enriched, and, he that refresheth, shall himself also be refreshed. |
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 keepeth back corn, the populace will curse him, but there is, a blessing, for the head of him that selleth. |
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| 27 He that diligently seeketh good, aimeth at favour, but, he that studieth mischief, it shall come on himself.
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| 28 He that trusteth in his riches, the same, shall fall, but, like the leaf, shall the righteous break forth. |
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| 29 He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the wind, but, a servant, shall the foolish be, to the wise in heart. |
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| 30 The fruit of the righteous, is a tree of life, and, he that rescueth souls, is wise. |
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 Lo! the righteous, in the earth shall be recompensed, how much more the lawless 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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