| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth a father to rejoice, And a foolish son [is] an affliction to his mother. |
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| 2 Treasures of wickedness profit not, And righteousness delivereth from death. |
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| 3 Jehovah causeth not the soul of the righteous to hunger, And the desire of the wicked He thrusteth away. |
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| 4 Poor [is] he who is working a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich. |
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| 5 Whoso is gathering in summer [is] a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest [is] a son causing shame. |
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| 6 Blessings [are] for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence. |
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| 7 The remembrance of the righteous [is] for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.
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Name – Position of official relationship is meant where the word "name" is used. R48:2*
Wicked shall rot – Shall utterly pass from the memory of all forever. OV439:3*
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| 8 The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh. |
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| 9 Whoso is walking in integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known. |
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| 10 Whoso is winking the eye giveth grief, And a talkative fool kicketh. |
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| 11 A fountain of life [is] the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence. |
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| 12 Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth. |
Love covereth all sins – The disposition that exposes the imperfections of the brethren is surely not the love that covers. R5530:4
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| 13 In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding. |
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| 14 The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool [is] near ruin. |
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| 15 The wealth of the rich [is] his strong city, The ruin of the poor [is] their poverty. |
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| 16 The wage of the righteous [is] for life, The increase of the wicked for sin. |
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| 17 A traveller to life [is] he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring. |
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| 18 Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool. |
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| 19 In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips [is] wise. |
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| 20 The tongue of the righteous [is] chosen silver, The heart of the wicked as a little thing. |
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| 21 The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die. |
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| 22 The blessing of Jehovah it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it. |
Blessing of the LORD – Hidden in Christ, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col. 2:3) R2762:5
Jesus tenders to us, first, earthly rights and blessings, on the condition that we agree to sacrifice them, thus being accounted worthy to share with him in heavenly glory. R4463:6
In the Gospel age God does not promise earthly blessings, nor immunity from sickness, pain and persecution. R2761:1
Greater happiness accompanies a devoted life, though spent in poverty, than does any other course, surrounded by every luxury. R4091:3
Few who possess earthly riches in advance of hearing of the truth, are likely to attain the high calling. R2761:2
It maketh rich – Not with the counterfeit riches of Laodicea--material prosperity and numbers of wealthy people. R2763:1
Regardless of the amount of the world's goods which one possesses. R5171:1
"He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich." (2 Cor. 8:9) R2761:4
We may have even now a foretaste of the riches of his grace and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; also the riches of the holy Spirit. R2762:4
In noble sentiments, faith, love, good works, and God's blessing and providential care. R2762:6, R5171:4
Spiritual privileges and hopes in the present life, and spiritual glory and immortality in the life to come. R5170:3, R5171:1, R2762:6, R4463:1; CR57:6
The blessing of the Lord has not made rich the world, but will do so in God's due time. R4463:1, R5171:4; CR57:3
Addeth no sorrow – Though those who live godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12), these are not of the Lord, though permitted by him. R4463:2
Sorrows are not of the Lord's providing or adding, but come as a result of sin and imperfection. R4463:2; CR57:6
Earthly riches of money and fame are subject to change and decay, and the heart which is too centered in these may be plunged into an abyss of sorrow and disappointment. R5862:1, R1820:2
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| 23 To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding. |
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| 24 The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given. |
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| 25 As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during. |
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| 26 As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So [is] the slothful to those sending him. |
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| 27 The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened. |
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| 28 The hope of the righteous [is] joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth. |
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| 29 The way of Jehovah [is] strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity. |
But destruction – Contrary to the Universalist theory. R3083:3
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| 30 The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth. |
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| 31 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out. |
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| 32 The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness! |
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