1 A false H4820 balance H3976 is abomination H8441 to the LORD: H3068 but a just H8003 weight H68 is his delight. H7522
2 When pride H2087 cometh, H935 then cometh H935 shame: H7036 but with the lowly H6800 is wisdom. H2451
3 The integrity H8538 of the upright H3477 shall guide H5148 them: but the perverseness H5558 of transgressors H898 shall destroy H7703 H7703 them.
4 Riches H1952 profit H3276 not in the day H3117 of wrath: H5678 but righteousness H6666 delivereth H5337 from death. H4194
5 The righteousness H6666 of the perfect H8549 shall direct H3474 his way: H1870 but the wicked H7563 shall fall H5307 by his own wickedness. H7564
6 The righteousness H6666 of the upright H3477 shall deliver H5337 them: but transgressors H898 shall be taken H3920 in their own naughtiness. H1942
7 When a wicked H7563 man H120 dieth, H4194 his expectation H8615 shall perish: H6 and the hope H8431 of unjust H205 men perisheth. H6
8 The righteous H6662 is delivered out H2502 of trouble, H6869 and the wicked H7563 cometh H935 in his stead.
9 An hypocrite H2611 with his mouth H6310 destroyeth H7843 his neighbour: H7453 but through knowledge H1847 shall the just H6662 be delivered. H2502
10 When it goeth well H2898 with the righteous, H6662 the city H7151 rejoiceth: H5970 and when the wicked H7563 perish, H6 there is shouting. H7440
11 By the blessing H1293 of the upright H3477 the city H7176 is exalted: H7311 but it is overthrown H2040 by the mouth H6310 of the wicked. H7563
12 He that is void H2638 of wisdom H3820 despiseth H936 his neighbour: H7453 but a man H376 of understanding H8394 holdeth his peace. H2790
13 A talebearer H1980 H7400 revealeth H1540 secrets: H5475 but he that is of a faithful H539 spirit H7307 concealeth H3680 the matter. H1697
14 Where no counsel H8458 is, the people H5971 fall: H5307 but in the multitude H7230 of counsellors H3289 there is safety. H8668
15 He that is surety H6148 for a stranger H2114 shall smart H7321 H7451 for it: and he that hateth H8130 suretiship H8628 is sure. H982
16 A gracious H2580 woman H802 retaineth H8551 honour: H3519 and strong H6184 men retain H8551 riches. H6239
17 The merciful H2617 man H376 doeth good H1580 to his own soul: H5315 but he that is cruel H394 troubleth H5916 his own flesh. H7607
18 The wicked H7563 worketh H6213 a deceitful H8267 work: H6468 but to him that soweth H2232 righteousness H6666 shall be a sure H571 reward. H7938
19 As righteousness H6666 tendeth to life: H2416 so he that pursueth H7291 evil H7451 pursueth it to his own death. H4194
20 They that are of a froward H6141 heart H3820 are abomination H8441 to the LORD: H3068 but such as are upright H8549 in their way H1870 are his delight. H7522
21 Though hand H3027 join in hand, H3027 the wicked H7451 shall not be unpunished: H5352 but the seed H2233 of the righteous H6662 shall be delivered. H4422
22 As a jewel H5141 of gold H2091 in a swine's H2386 snout, H639 so is a fair H3303 woman H802 which is without H5493 discretion. H2940
23 The desire H8378 of the righteous H6662 is only good: H2896 but the expectation H8615 of the wicked H7563 is wrath. H5678
24 There is H3426 that scattereth, H6340 and yet increaseth; H3254 and there is that withholdeth H2820 more than is meet, H3476 but it tendeth to poverty. H4270
25 The liberal H1293 soul H5315 shall be made fat: H1878 and he that watereth H7301 shall be watered H3384 also himself.
26 He that withholdeth H4513 corn, H1250 the people H3816 shall curse H5344 him: but blessing H1293 shall be upon the head H7218 of him that selleth H7666 it.
27 He that diligently seeketh H7836 good H2896 procureth H1245 favour: H7522 but he that seeketh H1875 mischief, H7451 it shall come H935 unto him.
28 He that trusteth H982 in his riches H6239 shall fall: H5307 but the righteous H6662 shall flourish H6524 as a branch. H5929
29 He that troubleth H5916 his own house H1004 shall inherit H5157 the wind: H7307 and the fool H191 shall be servant H5650 to the wise H2450 of heart. H3820
30 The fruit H6529 of the righteous H6662 is a tree H6086 of life; H2416 and he that winneth H3947 souls H5315 is wise. H2450
31 Behold, the righteous H6662 shall be recompensed H7999 in the earth: H776 much more the wicked H7563 and the sinner. H2398
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.