loving his own soul,” the inspired counsel and discipline therein, if followed, will add “length of days and years of life” and “will prove to be life to your soul.” (Prov. 3:2; 19:8; 3:13-18, 21-26) “Jehovah will not cause the soul of the righteous one to go hungry.” (10:3) “He that is keeping the commandment is keeping his soul,” Solomon admonishes.—19:16.

RELATIONS WITH OTHERS

Proverbs describes the true servant of God as one who uses his tongue for good (Prov. 10:20, 21, 31, 32), not speaking falsely nor even hurting others by thoughtless words. (12:6, 8, 17-19; 18:6-8, 21) If provoked, he turns away the rage of his opponent by a mild answer. (15:1; 25:15) He does not enjoy disputes or quarrels, and exercises self-control against outbursts of anger, knowing that he might commit irreparable foolishness. (14:17, 29; 15:18; compare Colossians 3:8.) In fact, he will avoid companionship with those letting anger control them and who display fits of rage, for he knows that they would bring him into a snare.—Prov. 22:24, 25; compare 13:20; 14:7; 1 Corinthians 15:33.

Render good, not evil

The inspired Proverbs urge one to take the initiative to do good toward others. Not only is he to act with good toward those ‘dwelling in security’ with him, who have rendered no bad to him (Prov. 3:27-30), but he is also urged to return good for bad. (25:21, 22) He is to watch his heart closely, that he does not have inner rejoicing at calamity that comes to one he despises, or who hates him.—17:5; 24:17, 18.

Gossip and slander

Much is said in the book of Proverbs about the trouble, grief and damage brought by gossiping, and the gravity of the guilt resting on the talebearer. The ‘choice morsel’ of a slanderer is “swallowed greedily” by its hearer and is not taken lightly but makes a lasting impression, going down “into the innermost parts of the belly.” Therefore it causes trouble and the speaker cannot ‘wash his hands’ of guilt. Though such one may appear very gracious and may disguise his true heart condition, God will see to it that the hate and badness that is actually within him is “uncovered in the congregation.” He will fall into the pit he has dug for someone else.—Prov. 26:22-28.

Family relationships

Marital fidelity is strictly counseled in the Proverbs. One should find delight in ‘the wife of his youth’ and not be seeking satisfaction elsewhere. (Prov. 5:15-23) Adultery will bring ruin and death to its practicers. (5:3-14; 6:23-35) A good wife is a “crown” and a blessing to her husband. But if a wife acts shamefully, she is “as rottenness in [her husband’s] bones.” (12:4) And it is a misery to a man even to live with a wife that is contentious. (25:24; 19:13; 21:19; 27:15, 16) Outwardly pretty and charming though she may be, she is like “a gold nose ring in the snout of a pig.” (11:22; 31:30) A foolish woman actually tears down her own house. (14:1) The fine value of the good wife—her industriousness, trustworthiness and management of the household in faithfulness and submission to her husband—is fully described in Proverbs chapter 31.

Parents are shown to be fully responsible for their children, and discipline is emphasized as essential. (Prov. 19:18; 22:6, 15; 23:13, 14; 29:15, 17) The father’s responsibility is highlighted, but the child must respect both father and mother if he wants life from Jehovah.—19:26; 20:20; 23:22; 30:17.

Animal care

Even concern for domestic animals is considered in the Proverbs. “The righteous one is caring for the soul of his domestic animal.” (12:10) “You ought to know positively the appearance of your flock.”—27:23.

Government stability and fidelity

The proverbs express principles of good government. Men of high station, such as kings, should search matters through (25:2), manifest loving-kindness and trueness (20:28) and deal justly with their subjects (29:4; 31:9), including the lowly ones. (29:14) Their counselors cannot be wicked men if the rulership is to be firmly established by righteousness. (25:4, 5) A leader must be a man of discernment and a hater of unjust profit.—28:16.

Whereas ‘righteousness exalts a nation’ (14:34), transgression results in unstable government. (28:2) Revolution also brings great instability, and is counseled against at Proverbs 24:21, 22: “My son, fear Jehovah and the king. With those who are for a change, do not intermeddle. For their disaster will arise so suddenly, that who is aware of the extinction of those who are for a change?”

USEFUL FOR COUNSEL

Since the proverbs cover a wide range of human endeavor, they can provide a basis for giving much practical counsel and admonition, as was done by the writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures. “The heart of the righteous one meditates so as to answer.” (15:28) However, it is not wise to counsel ridiculers. “He that is correcting the ridiculer is taking to himself dishonor, and he that is giving a reproof to someone wicked—a defect in him. Do not reprove a ridiculer, that he may not hate you. Give a reproof to a wise person and he will love you.” (9:7, 8; 15:12; compare Matthew 7:6.) Not all persons are ridiculers and hence those in a position to counsel others should do so, as is highlighted by the words: “The very lips of the righteous one keep pasturing many.”—Prov. 10:21.

See the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” pp. 106-111.

PROVINCE

This designation originally indicated the sphere of authority of a Roman administrator. When Rome expanded its conquests beyond the Italian peninsula, the territory or geographical limits of the rule of a governor came to be called a province.

In 27 B.C.E. the first Roman emperor, Augustus, arranged the twenty-two then-existing provinces into two categories. The ten more peaceful ones that did not require the constant presence of Roman legions became senatorial provinces. The chief Roman official of this type of province was the proconsul. (Acts 18:12; see PROCONSUL.) The remaining provinces were constituted imperial provinces, being directly responsible to the emperor and administered by a governor and, in larger ones, a military commander called a legate. Imperial provinces were often near the frontier or for some other reason required legions to be stationed in them; by closely controlling these provinces the emperor kept the army under his authority. After 27 B.C.E. new provinces formed from conquered territories became imperial provinces. A province might be subdivided into smaller administrative sections or districts.

The status of a province could shift between senatorial and imperial. (See CYPRUS.) Also, the boundaries of a province were sometimes adjusted. As a result, a particular city or area might be in a certain province at one time and later in an adjacent one, or even in a newly formed province. For examples of this, see CAPPADOCIA; CILICIA; PAMPHYLIA; PISIDIA.

With the banishment of Archelaus (Matt. 2:22), the son of Herod the Great, Judea came under the rule of Roman governors. The governor of the province was to some degree responsible to the legate of the larger province of Syria.

When Paul was delivered to Felix at Caesarea, the governor “inquired from what province he [Paul] was, and ascertained that he was from Cilicia.” (Acts 23:34) Tarsus, Paul’s birthplace, was in the Roman province of Cilicia.—Acts 22:3.

The governor of an imperial province was appointed