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I. WHAT IS PROSPERITY? To be prosperous is to have that which will promote the well-being of man's whole nature and which has that end secured. Material, moral, and intellectual wealth and its results.

II. WHAT IS CALCULATED TO PRODUCE IT? The psalmist, our Lord, and St. Paul are at one as to the qualification. "Righteousness" — the harmony of a man's whole nature with the will of God.

1. When that is the case, a man is moderate, temperate, observant of natural laws, and (supposing of course no constitutional ailment) therefore healthy.

2. He holds in check the feverish desire to succeed, and thus godliness with contentment becomes great gain.

3. He holds those passions in check which cloud the understanding and impair the vision.

4. He respects the rights of others. Hence, those whose rights you respect, will respect yours.

5. He will be frugal of his time, his money, etc., in recognition of God's claims upon both, and, as God's steward, will put them out to usury, and strive to be prosperous, that he may advance God's interests in the world.

III. WHAT OBJECTIONS CAN BE URGED AGAINST ALL THIS?

1. That the righteous are not better off than others. But(1) Do those who are called righteous answer to the law of righteousness in its entirety?

(2) Without controversy it is all true respecting communities. All history proves that they prosper in proportion to their righteousness.

(3) It is so by the common consent of the world. How often do we hear the expression that such an one is "worth his weight in gold."

2. That men prosper who violate the laws of righteousness. But(1) Are these men prosperous?

(2) Supposing them to have all that heart could wish, "what shall it profit a man?" etc.(3) Supposing it true of an individual, when was it ever true of a nation?

(J. W. Burn.)

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KJV: Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

WEB: Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.