| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. |
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| 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. |
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| 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. |
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
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| 4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. |
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| 5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. |
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| 6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. |
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| 7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. |
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| 8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. |
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| 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. |
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| 10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. |
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| 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. |
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| 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it 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
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| 13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. |
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| 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. |
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| 15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. |
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| 16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. |
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| 17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. |
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| 18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. |
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| 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. |
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| 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. |
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
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| 21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. |
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| 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. |
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| 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. |
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| 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
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| 25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. |
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