| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Thou considerest diligently that which [is] before thee, |
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| 2 And thou hast put a knife to thy throat, If thou [art] a man of appetite. |
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| 3 Have no desire to his dainties, seeing it [is] lying food. |
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| 4 Labour not to make wealth, From thine own understanding cease, Dost thou cause thine eyes to fly upon it Then it is not. |
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| 5 For wealth maketh to itself wings, As an eagle it flieth to the heavens. |
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| 6 Eat not the bread of an evil eye, And have no desire to his dainties, |
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| 7 For as he hath thought in his soul, so [is] he, 'Eat and drink,' saith he to thee, And his heart [is] not with thee. |
As he thinketh – Alexander the Great willed to be conqueror of the world and, at a cost of wealth and a stream of blood, he accomplished wonders. OV195:5
In his heart – The mental determination or will represents the real man, from the divine standpoint. OV315:4; SM339:2; R5246:2
The Lord knows whether we are seeking to please him. R5124:4, R5247:1
The mind has something to do with our physical condition. One-half of the people in the world are sick because they think they are so. The mistake of Christian Science is that they carry this principle too far. R5247:6
We should seek to cultivate helpful thoughts and thus exercise a helpful influence upon ourselves or others. R5248:1
A man's thoughts shape themselves according to the structure of his brain. OV137:4; R4774:4
So is he – A man is not always what on the surface he seems to be. His real character is deep down--the purpose of his life. R5246:5
If he thinks justly, he will speak and act justly; if his thoughts are selfish and ignoble, his words will be deceitful and his conduct dishonest. R2890:3, R4821:2
Heart-thinking, guided by certain principles, has to do with the real man God is considering--not the old creature, but the new. These constitute transformation of character. R5246:6
The body and mind are both strengthened by thinking about things noble, good and pure. SM338:1
The instructions of the Word, received into good and honest hearts, lead to obedience and the development of the fruits of the spirit. R5908:5
This same principle is applicable to the whole world, though not on a scale so far-reaching. R5247:4
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| 8 Thy morsel thou hast eaten thou dost vomit up, And hast marred thy words that [are] sweet. |
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| 9 In the ears of a fool speak not, For he treadeth on the wisdom of thy words. |
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| 10 Remove not a border of olden times, And into fields of the fatherless enter not, |
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| 11 For their Redeemer [is] strong, He doth plead their cause with thee. |
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| 12 Bring in to instruction thy heart, And thine ear to sayings of knowledge. |
Apply thine heart – Not just our heads. This implies the study of ourselves, as well as of the Word, to see just what portions of the Word apply to our present necessities. R2093:6*, R2094:1*
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| 13 Withhold not from a youth chastisement, When thou smitest him with a rod he dieth not. |
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| 14 Thou with a rod smitest him, And his soul from Sheol thou deliverest. |
Shalt beat him – If the child needs it. E368
Deliver his soul – Spare his being for years of usefulness. E368
From hell – Sheol. Wise correction will save a child from vicious ways which lead to premature death, and possibly prepare him to escape the Second Death. R2599:4; E368
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| 15 My son, if thy heart hath been wise, My heart rejoiceth, even mine, |
My son – The exhortation is that of a parent or a teacher who has had experience in life. To profit by instruction is an evidence of wisdom. R2073:3
Be wise – in heavenly wisdom; this makes the glad father. R1502:2
The aim of some parents to have their sons be men of wealth, power, fame or social prominence is not a worthy ambition. R1502:2
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| 16 And my reins exult when thy lips speak uprightly. |
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| 17 Let not thy heart be envious at sinners, But in the fear of Jehovah all the day. |
Not ... envy sinners – Thereby missing the joy and peace which naturally flow from a heart full of love and reverence for the Lord. R1502:2
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| 18 For, is there a posterity Then thy hope is not cut off. |
There is an end – To the brief pleasures of sinners. R1502:2
The end of the walk of honesty and uprightness will eventually be better than that of pleasures and sensualities. R2074:1
Not be cut off – Shall have a never-failing source of consolation. R1502:2
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| 19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And make happy in the way thy heart, |
Guide thine heart – If the heart is right, the actions will regulate themselves accordingly. " Keep thy heart, for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov. 4:23) R1502:2
In the way – Describing a youth starting upon life's journey where two roads meet--one upward, an honorable course of morality; one downward, gratification of depraved tastes. R2073:6
This way of morality and temperance is not the same as the "narrow way" of self-denial in which the Christian is to walk. R2074:5
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| 20 Be not thou among quaffers of wine, Among gluttonous ones of flesh, |
Not among winebibbers – Realizing the force of example, those who feel strong along this line will forego the exercise of their liberties for fear of stumbling their weaker neighbors. R3270:6, R3746:3
The Lord's consecrated may not turn aside from their more important message, the calling of the bride, to urge upon the world the excellent but temporary and partial reform of total abstinence. R4337:2, R4338:4, R4156:3,6
It would be perfectly right for us to express our sentiment on the liquor question at the polls. R4156:2
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| 21 For the quaffer and glutton become poor, And drowsiness clotheth with rags. |
For the drunkard – "No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of heaven." (1 Cor. 6:10) No drunkard, therefore, can hope to be a member of the Body of Christ. R4600:6
Having once been a drunkard, and having turned from it, the individual would be a drunkard no longer. R4601:1
Total abstinence may be much more necessary today than it was centuries ago because the race is gradually becoming weakened. R4156:5
And the glutton – Drunkenness and gluttony are classed together. Both are unworthy of true manhood and bring their sure reward of poverty and disgrace. R1444:4
Who is as truly intemperate as the drunkard. R2074:2
We are in sympathy with temperance in respect to intoxicants and "in all things." R3746:6
Come to poverty – Gluttony leads to poverty of both mental and physical strength. R2074:2
Drowsiness – Sloth or idleness or lack of energy, another form of intemperance. R2074:2
In an opposite direction, intemperance in energy and ambition for honors or wealth robs one of social enjoyment and spiritual privileges and joys. R2074:2
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| 22 Hearken to thy father, who begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she hath become old. |
Hearken unto – Or, honor. The obligations of honor to parents never ceases, though that of obedience does when the years of maturity and discretion are reached. R1502:5
Because of the sudden increase in knowledge, the young have outstripped their seniors. The resultant tendency is disrespect. R2074:2
The wise parent sets a good example in childlikeness, being ready to learn from and with his children along the lines of their superior educational advantages. R2074:3
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| 23 Truth buy, and sell not, Wisdom, and instruction, and understanding, |
Buy the truth – With reference to the ordinary affairs of life, dealings between men; and with reference to spiritual things, God and the divine plan. R2074:3
What we possess naturally is not of lasting value; what we may obtain instead is of priceless value, everlasting. R1656:2
Sell it not – Truth, wisdom and understanding are not too costly at any price; and should never be sold or compromised for the short-lived advantages of error. R1502:5
And instruction – Sought in meekness and with a ready and appreciative mind in the way of God's appointment; but never take council with the ungodly. R1502:5
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| 24 The father of the righteous rejoiceth greatly, The begetter of the wise rejoiceth in him. |
A wise child – Laying the foundation for a good, wise character before the children were born. R2074:4
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| 25 Rejoice doth thy father and thy mother, Yea, she that bare thee is joyful. |
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| 26 Give, my son, thy heart to me, And let thine eyes watch my ways. |
My son – You who have repented of sin and are trusting in the precious blood of Christ. R3703:6
If you would be my son. R5702:5
We are treated as sons in a relative way the moment we turn from sin. Q400:1
Because of justification, instead of being human sinners, we are human sons; and now, because we are sons, God speaks to us as such. A233
Only by continued loyalty and obedience can sonship be maintained. R5702:3, R3207:4*
Give me thine heart – The affections and qualities of the mind to which God appeals. OV138:1; R4904:1, R4774:6
Including all that you have and are; in the highest, noblest and fullest sense--your body, worship, reverence, praise, treasure, time, talents, influence, money--all in joyful service. R3703:6, R2388:5; A233; F436
Not merely nine-tenths of your heart, but all of it. R4812:3
And I will make you a son on a higher plane than the human. A233
As the Apostle declares, it is our "reasonable service." (Rom. 12:1) R3704:1
The most that God does for anyone is simply inform him of the steps necessary to complete his justification. R5207:2
So long as our heart is loyal to the Lord it will control all the products of life because it will lead us to seek to know the Lord's will in everything. R4201:3
Observe my ways – Note God's qualities of character, of wisdom, justice, love and power, calling forth admiration and reverence. R5703:1
All who are sons of God will study his ways, especially from the study of the Bible. R5703:4
We are not to follow the Lord's ways in the execution of judgment because we are liable to make mistakes in such matters. R5703:1
The world does not realize that they are copying the Lord's ways in the inventions of this day. R5703:1
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| 27 For a harlot [is] a deep ditch, And a strange woman [is] a strait pit. |
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| 28 She also, as catching prey, lieth in wait, And the treacherous among men she increaseth. |
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| 29 Who hath wo who hath sorrow Who hath contentions who hath plaint Who hath wounds without cause Who hath redness of eyes |
Who hath babbling? – The spirit of a sound mind would not permit one to take anything into his system that would befuddle his reason. R4337:2
Redness of eyes? – "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging." (Prov. 20:1) R2533:1
Picture of the drunkard. R4600:6, R1444:4
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| 30 Those tarrying by the wine, Those going in to search out mixed wine. |
That tarry long – Most of such began the use of liquor with the intention of becoming moderate drinkers only. R5098:6, R3271:2
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| 31 See not wine when it showeth itself red, When it giveth in the cup its colour, It goeth up and down through the upright. |
Look not – Even the exceeding great and precious promises are not enough to hold our fallen appetites when constantly exposed to temptation. We must engage our attention and thoughts in another direction. R3271:4
While it cannot be said that the Bible commands total abstinence, under present conditions we, as followers of Jesus, are justified in urging it. R4600:3
97% of transportation companies forbid their employees from using alcohol. (1903) R3270:3
When it is red – There is a charm or enticement connected with alcoholic stimulants which gradually wastes the strong and quickly enthralls the weak of will. R4600:6
Moveth itself aright – Goeth down smoothly. R4600:6
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| 32 Its latter end as a serpent it biteth, And as a basilisk it stingeth. |
Like a serpent – Throughout all Europe the blight of intoxication is awfully prevalent. (1906) R3746:6
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| 33 Thine eyes see strange women, And thy heart speaketh perverse things. |
Strange women – Strange things, as in delirium tremens. R3271:4
The demoniacal power of liquor is associated with its twin sister, fleshly desire and general immorality. R4600:6
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| 34 And thou hast been as one lying down in the heart of the sea, And as one lying down on the top of a mast. |
Midst of the sea – Like floating wreckage. R4600:6
The top of a mast – In imminent danger of destruction. R4600:6
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| 35 'They smote me, I have not been sick, They beat me, I have not known. When I awake I seek it yet again!' |
I felt it not – Those who become beastly drunk are unconscious of injury. R4600:6
When shall I awake? – Seem to have their chiefest pleasure in unconsciousness. R4600:6
Seek it yet again – Upon recovering from one debauch, their desire is to seek the stimulation again. R4600:6, R3271:4
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