Proverbs 11

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1The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.

2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

4Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

7When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

8The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead.

9With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

10When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

12A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

13A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

14For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.

15He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.

16A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

18The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

19The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.

20The Lord detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

21Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

22Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

26People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.

27He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

29He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

31If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Commentary

11:1 However men may make light of giving short weight or measure, and however common such crimes may be, they are an abomination to the Lord. 2. Considering how safe, and quiet, and easy the humble are, we see that with the lowly is wisdom. 3. An honest man's principles are fixed, therefore his way is plain. 4. Riches will stand men in no stead in the day of death. 5,6. The ways of wickedness are dangerous. And sin will be its own punishment. 7. When a godly man dies, all his fears vanish; but when a wicked man dies, his hopes vanish. 8. The righteous are often wonderfully kept from going into dangerous situations, and the ungodly go in their stead. 9. Hypocrites delude men into error and sin by artful objections against the truths of God's word. 10,11. Nations prosper when wicked men are cast down. 12. A man of understanding does not judge of others by their success. 13. A faithful man will not disclose what he is trusted with, unless the honour of God and the real good of society require it. 14. We shall often find it to our advantage to advise with others. 15. The welfare of our families, our own peace, and our ability to pay just debts, must not be brought into danger. But here especially let us consider the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in becoming Surety even for enemies. 16. A pious and discreet woman will keep esteem and respect, as strong men keep possession of wealth. 17. A cruel, froward, ill-natured man, is vexatious to those that are, and should be to him as his own flesh, and punishes himself. 18. He that makes it his business to do good, shall have a reward, as sure to him as eternal truth can make it. 19. True holiness is true happiness. The more violent a man is in sinful pursuits, the more he hastens his own destruction. 20. Nothing is more hateful to God, than hypocrisy and double dealing, which are here signified. God delights in such as aim and act with uprightness. 21. Joining together in sin shall not protect the sinners. 22. Beauty is abused by those who have not discretion or modesty with it. This is true of all bodily endowments. 23. The wicked desire mischief to others, but it shall return upon themselves. 24. A man may grow poor by not paying just debts, not relieving the poor, not allowing needful expenses. Let men be ever so saving of what they have, if God appoints, it comes to nothing. 25. Both in temporal and spiritual things, God commonly deals with his people according to the measure by which they deal with their brethren. 26. We must not hoard up the gifts of God's bounty, merely for our own advantage. 27. Seeking mischief is here set against seeking good; for those that are not doing good are doing hurt, even to themselves.

Chapter 11 Verse 1 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, 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.

"\n[When] pride cometh, then cometh shame,.... The one follows the other, or rather keep pace together; as soon as one comes, the other comes; as in the case of the angels that sinned, Adam and Eve, Haman, Nebuchadnezzar, and others; and will be the case of the Romish antichrist, who, while vaunting and priding himself in his glory and grandeur, will fall into shame, disgrace, and destruction, Re 18:7;\n\nbut with the lowly [is] wisdom; or wisdom shall come, as Jarchi: the consequence of which is honour and glory; as with Christ, who is meek and lowly, are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; so with his humble followers, who reckon themselves the least of saints, and chief of sinners, and own that it is by the grace of God they are what they are, is true wisdom; they are wise unto salvation, and in the way to honour and glory; such humble souls shall be exalted, Lu 14:11.\n\n\n "

"\nThe integrity of the upright shall guide them,....

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