“And the Mean Man Boweth Not Down”

D. Kelly Ogden, Andrew C. Skinner

Here is a change from the Isaiah text in the Old Testament: “the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not, therefore, forgive him not.” Pride is always an obstacle to spiritual progress. As Malachi would later prophesy, at the Lord’s second coming the proud and all that do wickedly shall be consumed as stubble (Malachi 4:1), and then the meek will inherit the earth—none of the proud will be around to contest the inheritance.

“O ye wicked ones” in verse 10 is an addition to the Isaiah text.

The Lord alone will be exalted in that day (v. 11; same as v. 17); verse 18 adds that idols are utterly abolished—the antithesis of the Lord being exalted. (How the idols are disposed of is described in verse 20.)

Verse by Verse: The Book of Mormon: Vol. 1

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