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Expanded Comments |
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1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words,
And lay up my commandments with thee;
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2 So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom,
And apply thy heart to understanding;
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3 Yes, if thou cry after discernment,
And lift up thy voice for understanding;
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Liftest up thy voice – Many who thus pray for knowledge do not seek it as "hid treasure," and therefore do not find it. R493:2*
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4 If thou seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hid treasures:
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If thou seekest her – Webster says that "in Scripture theology, wisdom is true religion," religion signifying "any system of faith and worship." R179:1*
Those who are so anxious for truth as to be willing to sacrifice other things to get it are the ones for whom God prepared it. R367:1
Some would rather be always unsettled than go to the necessary labor of "proving" by diligent study of the Scriptures what is good and what is erroneous. Such indifference will expose them to error. R651:6
Some, even amongst the Lord's friends, rebuke others for their earnestness in seeking truth, instead of encouraging it. R2730:4
As silver – Why is the Bible not more plain? Why is gold hid deep in the earth? It is a question of character. Desire, will, energy, determination and faithfulness will be rewarded. R24:4*
When found, silver has to be separated from materials, useful in themselves, but detracting from the value of the silver. So the child of God needs to "rightly divide the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15) R179:5*
What was necessary for our fathers to know of truth is not enough for us to know, any more than the supply of silver at the discovery of America was sufficient for the world at the present time. R179:4*
As for hid treasures – Why hidden? That it may not be found until needed. R179:2*
God has provided truth only for those who hunger and thirst after it. Many are too indifferent or too engrossed with money-getting and pleasure-seeking to dig for the truth. R1832:4
Miners have lights upon their heads and sometimes prostrate themselves in their search. We need to be humble and have our minds illuminated with the spirit. R179:5*
If you would find it you must be ever on the lookout. If you would see its beauty you must brush aside the weeds of error and the brambles of bigotry. If you would possess it you must stoop to get it. R9:1
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5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah,
And find the knowledge of God.
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Understand – A duty to find out all Possible of God's "system of faith." R179:2*
Find the knowledge – The Lord will bless every real truth-seeker. For such alone truth was written, to such alone it will be revealed. R501:5
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6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom;
Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:
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7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;
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Sound wisdom – Contrariwise, the spirit of devils produces the spirit of an unsound mind. R2185:2
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8 That he may guard the paths of justice,
And preserve the way of his saints.
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9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice,
And equity, yes, every good path.
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10 For wisdom shall enter into thy heart,
And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
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11 Discretion shall watch over thee;
Understanding shall keep thee:
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12 To deliver thee from the way of evil,
From the men that speak perverse things;
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13 Who forsake the paths of uprightness,
To walk in the ways of darkness;
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14 Who rejoice to do evil,
And delight in the perverseness of evil;
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15 Who are crooked in their ways,
And wayward in their paths:
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16 To deliver thee from the strange woman,
Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;
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17 That forsaketh the friend of her youth,
And forgetteth the covenant of her God:
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18 For her house inclineth unto death,
And her paths unto the dead;
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19 None that go unto her return again,
Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:
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20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men,
And keep the paths of the righteous.
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21 For the upright shall dwell in the land,
And the perfect shall remain in it.
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For the upright – All who desire fellowship with God through Christ during the Millennial age. E30
Dwell In the land – Under the terms of the New covenant. E30
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22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the land,
And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it. |
But the wicked – Who refuse the divine offer of reconciliation. E30
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