1 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, But accurate weights are his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame, But with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Riches don't profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, But the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, And expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked takes his place.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, But one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, But in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, But he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A gracious woman obtains honor, But violent men obtain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Wicked people earn deceitful wages, But one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, But those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Most assuredly, the evil man will not be unpunished, But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, Is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 People curse someone who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 11
Commentary on Proverbs 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Pr 11:1-31.
1. (Compare Margin). The Hebrews used stones for weights.
just—complete in measure.
2. Self-conceit is unteachable; the humble grow wise (compare Pr 16:18; 18:12).
3. guide—to lead, as a shepherd (Pr 6:7; Ps 78:52).
perverseness—ill-nature.
destroy—with violence.
4. (Compare Pr 10:2).
wrath—that is, of God.
5. direct—or, "make plain"; wicked ways are not plain (Pr 13:17).
6. deliver them—that is, from evil, which the wicked suffer by their own doings (Pr 5:22; Ps 9:16).
7. expectation … perish—for death cuts short all his plans (Lu 16:25).
hope of unjust—better, "hope of wealth," or "power" (compare Isa 40:29, Hebrew). This gives an advance on the sentiment of the first clause. Even hopes of gain die with him.
8. Perhaps the trouble prepared by the wicked, and which he inherits (compare Pr 11:6).
9. (Compare Ps 35:16; Da 11:32). The just is saved by superior discernment.
10, 11. The last may be a reason for the first. Together, they set forth the relative moral worth of good and bad men.
11. By the blessing—implying active benevolence.
12. despiseth—or, "reviles," a course contrasted with the prudent silence of the wise.
holdeth his peace—as if neither hearing nor telling.
13. tale-bearer—(Compare Margin), one trading as a peddler in scandal, whose propensity to talk leads him to betray confidence.
14. counsel—the art of governing (Pr 1:5).
counsellors—literally, "one giving counsel"; the participle used as a collective.
15. (Compare Pr 6:1).
suretiship—(Compare Margin), the actors put for the action, which may be lawfully hated.
16. retaineth—or literally, "lay hold of as a support." Honor is to a feeble woman thus as valuable as riches to men.
17. merciful—kind to others; opposed to cruel. Such benefit themselves by doing good to others (compare Pr 24:5), while the cruel injure themselves as well as others.
flesh—that is, his body, by penuriousness (Col 2:23).
18. a deceitful work—or, "wages," which fail to satisfy, or flee away (Pr 10:2; 23:5).
sure reward—or, "gain," as from trading (Ho 10:12; Ga 6:8, 9).
19. Inference from Pr 11:18 (compare Pr 11:5, 6; 10:16).
20. (Compare Pr 11:5).
froward—as in Pr 2:15, opposed to the simplicity and purity of the upright.
in their way—or, "conduct."
21. The combined power of the wicked cannot free them from just punishment, while the unaided children of the righteous find deliverance by reason of their pious relationship (Ps 37:25, 26).
22. Jewels were often suspended from the nose (Ge 24:47; Isa 3:21). Thus adorned, a hog disgusts less than a fair and indiscreet woman.
23. (Compare Pr 10:28).
wrath—is that of God.
24-31. The scope of the whole is a comment on Pr 11:23. Thus liberality, by God's blessing, secures increase, while penuriousness, instead of expected gain, procures poverty.
25. liberal soul—(Compare Margin).
made fat—prospers (Pr 28:25; De 32:15; Lu 6:38).
watereth … watered—a common figure for blessing.
26. Another example of the truth of Pr 11:23; the miser loses reputation, though he saves corn.
selleth it—that is, at a fair price.
27. good [and] mischief—that is, of others.
procureth … seeketh—implying success.
28. (Compare Pr 10:15; Ps 49:6; 1Ti 6:17).
righteous … branch—(Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8).
29. troubleth—as Pr 15:27 explains, by greediness for gain (compare Pr 11:17).
inherit … wind—Even successful, his gains are of no real value. So the fool, thus acting, either comes to poverty, or heaps up for others.
30. a tree of life—Blessings to others proceed from the works of the righteous (Pr 3:18).
winneth souls—(Compare Margin) to do them good as opposed to Pr 6:25; Eze 13:18 (compare Lu 5:10).
31. Behold—Thus calling attention to the illustrations (compare Pr 11:23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not excluding future rewards and punishments.