Characteristics of the Righteous
The Book of Proverbs describes the characteristics of the righteous including these examples that provide wisdom and direction for daily living.†
“The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.”—Proverbs 10:20,21
“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.”
—Proverbs 10:31
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
—Proverbs 18:21
“He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” —Proverbs 14:29
“He who walks with wise men becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
—Proverbs 13:20
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”— Proverbs 15:1
“With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.”
—Proverbs 25:15
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.”
—Proverbs 14:17
“A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of perverse mind is despised.” —Proverbs 12:8
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”—Proverbs 22:24,25
“The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers men.”
— Proverbs 12:6
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† All quotations are from the Revised Standard Version.
Christ’s Glorious Reign
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| Hail to the Lord’s Anointed, Jehovah’s blessed Son! Hail, in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression, To set the captives free, To take away transgression, And rule in equity.He comes with succor speedy To those who suffer wrong; To help the poor and needy, And bid the weak be strong; To give them songs for sigh ing, Their darkness turn to light, Whose souls, condemned and dying, Were precious in his sight.To him let praise unceasing And daily vows ascend; His kingdom, still increasing, Shall be without an end: The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; No, it shall stand for ever, A pledge that God is love. —Hymns of Dawn, #73 |
His Workmanship
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“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”—Ephesians 2:10
The bringing together of these living stones beyond the veil will be by the resurrection power, beautifully illustrated in the erection of Solomon’s Temple, of which we read that its stones were prepared at the quarry and then finally assembled for the construction of the Temple, and that they were so perfectly shaped and marked for their various places that they came together without the sound of a hammer—without … chiseling or … other labor upon them at the time of the construction. So St. Paul says, the Church is God’s workmanship. And His work will be so perfectly accomplished that there will be no need of rectification or alteration beyond the veil. It is this viewpoint that is especially interesting and profitable to the Lord’s people. Such of them as can realize that they have been called of God to this high calling, to membership in the temple, can fully appreciate thereafter the necessity for the trials and difficulties of life which are shaping them, fitting them, for heavenly glory, honor and immortality.—Reprints, p. 5713