| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 Whoso loveth discipline loveth knowledge, but he that hateth reproof is brutish. |
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| 2 A good man obtaineth favour of Jehovah; but a man of mischievous devices will he condemn. |
A good man – Let each ask himself, Are the purposes of my heart all pure and upright? R1520:2
Obtaineth favour – A constant sense of the Lord's favor. R1520:2
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| 3 A man shall not be established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. |
Shall not be moved – Because rooted and grounded in the principles of righteousness. R1520:2
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| 4 A woman of worth is a crown to her husband; but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. |
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| 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right; the counsels of the wicked are deceit. |
Are right – They stray not into forbidden paths. R1520:2
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| 6 The words of the wicked are a lying-in-wait for blood; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. |
Words of the wicked – Perverse doctrines to overthrow the faith of the righteous. R1520:2
Mouth of the upright – Ever ready to defend the righteous against the snares of the wicked. R1520:2
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| 7 Overthrow the wicked, and they are no more; but the house of the righteous shall stand. |
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| 8 A man is commended according to his wisdom; but he that is of a perverted heart shall be despised. |
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| 9 Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. |
And hath a servant – Laboreth for himself. R1520:5
Honoureth himself – Aimeth after honor. R1520:5
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| 10 A righteous man is concerned for the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. |
Regardeth . . . beast – Extends his tender mercies also to the lower creation. R1520:5
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| 11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless is void of understanding. |
Tilleth his land – The true child of God is no idler or visionary dreamer. R1520:5
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| 12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men; but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit2. |
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| 13 In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare; but a righteous man shall go forth out of trouble. |
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| 14 A man is satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. |
The recompence – Every act will meet its just deserts in due time. R1520:5
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| 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel. |
In his own eyes – Whoever succeeds in justifying himself in a wrong course finds the downward path easy and retracing his steps almost impossible. R1520:5
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| 16 The vexation of the fool is presently known; but a prudent man covereth shame. |
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| 17 He that uttereth truth sheweth forth righteousness; but a false witness deceit. |
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| 18 There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health. |
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| 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment. |
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| 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; but to the counsellors of peace is joy. |
Of peace – "God has called us to peace." (1 Cor. 7:15) R2946:3
Is joy – "He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men." (Rom. 14:18) R2947:4
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| 21 There shall no evil happen to a righteous man; but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. |
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| 22 Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; but they that deal truly are his delight. |
Lying lips – Hypocrisy is deceit in action and to deceive another is lying in one of its most unworthy forms. R4318:6
That deal truly – The principle of truth is honesty--in our words, conduct and thoughts. R4318:5
If we must charge Jacob in securing the birthright with lying lips we can at least credit him with honesty of heart. He lied to secure justice, and because his faith was not strong enough to trust the Lord implicitly. R3955:5
We should have even more faith: that the Lord will deal truly, to give us the blessings he has promised. R3955:6
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| 23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge; but the heart of the foolish proclaimeth folly. |
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| 24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful hand shall be under tribute. |
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| 25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad. |
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| 26 The righteous guideth his neighbour; but the way of the wicked misleadeth them. |
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| 27 The slothful roasteth not what he took in hunting; but man's precious substance is to the diligent. |
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| 28 In the path of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death. |
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