Proverbs 11
1A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight. 2When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom. 3The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. 4Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires. 7When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing. 8A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place. 9With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge. 10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace. 13One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret. 14Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory. 15He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure. 16A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches. 17The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh. 18Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. 19He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death. 20Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight. 21Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. 22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. 23The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath. 24There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty. 25The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself. 26People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. 27He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him. 28He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf. 29He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart. 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls. 31Behold, the righteous shall be repaid on the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Introduction
Proverbs 11
As religion towards God is a branch of universal righteousness (he is not an honest man that is not devout), so righteousness towards men is a branch of true religion, for he is not a godly man that is not honest, nor can he expect that his devotion should be accepted; for, 1. Nothing is more offensive to God than deceit in commerce. A false balance is here put for all manner of unjust and fraudulent practices in dealing with any person, which are all an abomination to the Lord, and render those abominable to him that allow themselves in the use of such accursed arts of thriving. It is an affront to justice, which God is the patron of, as well as a wrong to our neighbour, whom God is the protector of. Men make light of such frauds, and think there is no sin in that which there is money to be got by, and, while it passes undiscovered, they cannot blame themselves for it; a blot is no blot till it is hit, Hos 12:7, Hos 12:8. But they are not the less an abomination to God, who will be the avenger of those that are defrauded by their brethren. 2. Nothing is more pleasing to God than fair and honest dealing, nor more necessary to make us and our devotions acceptable to him: A just weight is his delight. He himself goes by a just weight, and holds the scale of judgment with an even hand, and therefore is pleased with those that are herein followers of him. A balance cheats, under pretence of doing right most exactly, and therefore is the greater abomination to God.
Cross-references: Hos 12:7 · Hos 12:8