| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke. |
|
| 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence. |
|
| 3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips. |
Keepeth his mouth – All our words are taken by the Lord as an index of our hearts. R1938:1
Shall have destruction – What a fearful responsibility attaches to the tongue that wags in an evil or flippant way, dishonoring God. R1938:1
"By thy words thou wilt be acquitted, and by thy words thou wilt be condemned." (Matt. 12:37) R1937:1
|
| 4 A sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. |
|
| 5 A righteous man hateth lying; but the wicked maketh himself odious and cometh to shame. |
|
| 6 Righteousness preserveth him that is perfect in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. |
|
| 7 There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great wealth. |
|
| 8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke. |
|
| 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. |
|
| 10 By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom. |
|
| 11 Wealth gotten by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase it2. |
|
| 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire that cometh to pass is a tree of life. |
The heart sick – To those who do not exercise proper faith, the trials by the way and the disappointments are most discouraging. R4048:1 Proverbs 13:15
Is hard – Though following the line of least resistance seems easiest, this is only a vain delusion. Q800:4
|
| 13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. |
|
| 14 The teaching of the wise man is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death. |
|
| 15 Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard. |
|
| 16 Every prudent man acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open his folly. |
|
| 17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health. |
|
| 18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. |
|
| 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil. |
|
| 20 He that walketh with wise men becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved. |
With wise men – In every enterprise of life we should seek counsel--the wisdom that cometh from above that is "first pure, then peaceable, easy to entreatment and full of mercy and good fruits." (Jas. 3:17) R4723:4
|
| 21 Evil pursueth sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid. |
|
| 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous man2. |
|
| 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is lost for want of judgment. |
|
| 24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. |
That spareth his rod – Neglects to use it when necessary to enforce the rules of love. F524
The homes of the New Creatures should be ruled by love, not the rod. When used, the rod should be wielded by the hand of love, never by the hand of anger. F524
The rod of discipline may be in the form of the denial of a kiss, or the withholding of supper or some other comfort or luxury. F525
"Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psa. 23:4) Q54:4
|
| 25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want. |
|