1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; but a just weight is his delight.
2 [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroyeth them.
4 Wealth profiteth not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh plain his way; but the wicked falleth by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivereth them; but the treacherous are taken in their own craving.
7 When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish; and the hope of evil [men] perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 With his mouth a hypocrite destroyeth his neighbour; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and 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 He that despiseth his neighbour is void of heart; but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no advice is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 It goeth ill with him that is surety for another; but he that hateth suretyship is secure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour; and the violent retain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but the cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
19 As righteousness [tendeth] to life, so he that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are abomination to Jehovah; but they that are perfect in [their] way are his delight.
21 Hand for hand! an evil [man] shall not be held innocent; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 A fair woman who is without discretion, is [as] a gold ring in a swine's snout.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good; the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is right, but [it tendeth] only to want.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that is earnest after good seeketh favour; but he that searcheth for mischief, it shall come upon him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and the wise winneth souls.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be requited on 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.