| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed. |
There are also – Chapters 25 to 29 were collected and added later by King Hezekiah. R1518:2
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| 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the glory of kings is to search out a thing. |
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| 3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. |
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| 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner: |
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| 5 take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
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| 6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great; |
Put not forth thyself – Ambition is a necessary faculty of the human mind, but a very dangerous element as respects the formation of Christian character. R3832:2
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| 7 for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes see. |
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| 8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. |
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| 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another; |
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| 10 lest he that heareth it disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away. |
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| 11 As apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season. |
A word fitly spoken – What a power the tongue has for good. OV208:4
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| 12 An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive ear. |
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| 13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. |
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| 14 Clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift. |
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| 15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. |
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| 16 Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it. |
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| 17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee. |
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| 18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour. |
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| 19 A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful man in the day of trouble. |
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| 20 As he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart. |
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| 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: |
If thine enemy – Although, if destitute, we should feed them; yet so long as they are the adversaries of the Lord's cause, they are our adversaries, and we are theirs. R1861:4
Give him bread – If love so broad and comprehensive was obligatory upon natural Israel, to what degree should spiritual Israel possess and manifest this noble quality? R5643:6
Not to see how badly you can make him feel, but because love is the principle of your nature. R2214:6
Illustrated by Elisha's feast to the Syrians who came to take him captive. (2 Kings 6:22, 23) R3441:5
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| 22 for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee. |
Fire upon his head – Make him ashamed of his conduct in contrast with yours. R3830:3
Many a man, like Nero, when awakened, will be greatly humiliated by the generous forgiveness of formerly injured fellow-men. R1655:1
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| 23 The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue. |
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| 24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common. |
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| 25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. |
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| 26 A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked. |
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| 27 It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is itself a weight. |
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| 28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is as a city broken down, without walls. |
No rule – A will-less man is a good-for-naught. OV196:T
A lawless disposition, the spirit of anarchy. R5487:6
Indecision and lack of character in little things (irregularity in arising and indecision as to proper foods) affect all the greater things of life. R5653:4
"A wise man sometimes changes his mind; a fool, never." Ruling our own spirit does not mean that we are to go to extremes. R5653:4
One who yields to sin and various weaknesses and assaults of the Adversary has lost his real manhood. R4789:6
If we rule our mind and our thoughts we shall rule our tongue. R5488:2
His own spirit – The impulses of one's native mind, disposition. R5488:1,5, R5652:6
In creating man God gave him a will; but it needs to be defended and kept in repair. R4789:3
The will is to be continually on guard over the mind, to allow nothing to enter except through the regular gates of conscience and judgment. R5653:1
A city – One's will; the will governs the mind and conduct. R5488:5, R5489:1
Whether our wills are strong or weak, they need direction. R5487:3
In olden times cities were particularly places of refuge and had strong walls. R5487:3
Broken down – Not from visible forces alone, but by evil spirits subduing and breaking down the will. R4789:6
Even failures, subsequently recognized, lead to greater fortification of the will. R4790:4
Without walls – Open to attack. R5487:3
Would invite attack and be certain to meet disaster sometime, as would a broken-down human will. R5653:1
No will, no self-control. R4789:3, R5653:1
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