Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11:1

11:1 Crooked merchants sometimes had two sets of weights, one for buying and one for selling. The buying weights were heavier than they should have been, so that he got more merchandise than he paid for. The selling weights were lighter than the standard, so that the customer got less than he paid for. There are dishonest practices in business today that come under this ban on dishonest scales, as well as applications in school life, social life, home life, and church life. 11:2 First, pride; then a fall; then comes shame connected with the fall. But to be humble and down-to-earth reduces the danger of stumbling. 11:3 Honesty is the best policy. The integrity of upright people will guide them on the right track; the experience of Joseph is an example. The crookedness of the unfaithful is their downfall; Balaam’s life testifies to this. 11:4 Riches cannot avert the wrath of God in time or in eternity. Righteousness is a safeguard against premature death in the here and now. And only those who are clothed in the righteousness of God will escape the second death. 11:5 The blameless man is directed by righteousness, the ideal guide. The wicked man will fall, a victim of his own wickedness. 11:6 Righteousness not only guides good men; it will deliver them from perils seen and unseen. Apostates, like Judas, will be caught in the meshes of their own lust and greed. 11:7 It has been said that a fool is a man all of whose plans end at the grave. When the coffin lid closes, all his hopes are ended. The things he lived for are no longer his, and his expectation of prosperity is gone forever. 11:8 God delivers the righteous from trouble and sends it upon the wicked instead. Thus the three Hebrews were delivered out of the fiery furnace, but their would-be executioners were consumed by the fire (Dan_3:22-26). 11:9 An apostate or hypocrite seeks to undermine the faith of his neighbor with doubts and denials. Knowledge of the truth enables the righteous to detect the counterfeit, and to save himself and others from subversion. 11:10 Two occasions when a city breaks out in joyful celebration are when the righteous prosper and when the wicked perish. 11:11 The blessing of the upright may refer to their prayers for the city (1Ti_2:1-2), or to the benefits which their presence and godly influence bring to the city (cf. Jesus’ description of His followers as the salt of the earth in Mat_5:13). The deceit, broken promises, fraud, and profanity of the wicked are enough to ruin any local government. 11:12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace. To belittle another man is to insult God, to hurt the man, to invite strife, and to help no one. A man of understanding knows that it is better to say nothing if he can’t praise or edify. 11:13 A talebearer seems to take a malicious delight in spreading scandal, informing on others, and breaking confidences. He doesn’t hold anything back, but tells everything he knows. A faithful friend knows how to maintain a confidence and to refrain from talking. 11:14 Without wise leadership and statesmanship, the people are bound to fall into trouble. On the other hand, there is safety in having the combined judgment of many good counselors. 11:15 To be surety for a stranger means to guarantee his debt or his promissory note. The person who does this will suffer for it, that is, he will pay a stinging penalty. The man who hates suretyship saves himself a lot of headaches. See notes on Pro_6:1-5. 11:16 A gracious woman retains respect and honor, as is seen in the case of Abigail (1 Sam. 25). Ruthless men may retain riches but they never get a good name. 11:17 A man’s disposition affects his own health. The kind person avoids the dyspepsia, apoplexy, gastrointestinal ulcers, and heart trouble which the cruel one brings on himself. He does good for his own soul. The British Medical Journal once said that there is not a tissue in the human body that is wholly removed from the spirit. A cruel disposition takes its toll on the body. One having such a temperament troubles his own flesh. 11:18 The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. It is true that evil people often seem to grow rich overnight, but their wealth is unsatisfying, unenduring, and unable to help them when they need it most. The rewards of a righteous life are real and permanent. 11:19 All conduct leads in one of two directionseither to life or to . . . death. This proverb does not teach salvation by good works, however. No one can be steadfast in righteousness unless he is in right relationship to God. He must first have been born again. A man who pursues evil proves thereby that he never was converted. 11:20 As far as the LORD is concerned, a heart that is false is hateful and loathsome. He really likes the person who is straightforward. No view of God is complete unless it sees that He is capable of hatred as well as of love. A heart that is blameless, on the other hand, is His delight. 11:21 “Though they join forces” is literally “hand in hand” (NKJV margin). It may refer to two things that are certain in this uncertain worldthe punishment of the wicked and the deliverance of the posterity of the righteous. 11:22 A ring of gold in a pig’s snout is incongruous. The snout is as unattractive as the ring is lovely. A lovely woman who lacks discretion also combines two oppositesphysical attractiveness and moral deficiency. 11:23 Righteous people aspire only for good and they get it. The wicked seek for evil and they get it in the form of wrath or judgment. This proverb emphasizes the importance of having worthy goals, because ultimately we get what we go after in life. That is why Emerson said, “Hitch your wagon to a star.” A British statesman urged his cabinet, “Whatever else you do, buy big maps!” 11:24 Here is a glorious paradox. We enrich ourselves by being generous. We impoverish ourselves by laying up treasures on earth. What we save, we lose. What we give, we have. Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” And Dr. Barnhouse observed that everybody tithes, either to the Lord or to the doctor, the dentist, and the garage mechanic. 11:25 The generous person reaps dividends that the miser can never know. Whatever we do for others returns to us in blessing. When a Sunday school teacher prepares diligently and then teaches her class, who do you think benefits from it mostthe students or herself? 11:26 The selfish man keeps his grain off the market in a time of famine, hoping for greater return as the price is forced up. He is a profiteer, enriching himself by impoverishing and starving others. No wonder the people will curse him! They want someone who will meet their desperate need now. The world is perishing for the bread of life. The bread is free, and always will be. We have it to share with others. What are we waiting for? Blessing will be on the one who sells the grain, that is, who spreads the good news of the gospel. 11:27 When a man’s motives are pure and unselfish, he wins the esteem of others. But the man who is out to cause trouble for others will get it for himself. 11:28 The NT counterpart of this proverb Isaiah 1Ti_6:17-19. Riches are uncertain and therefore not worthy of trust. Our confidence should be in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. “The lust of gold,” said Samuel Johnson, “unfeeling and remorseless, is the last corruption of degenerate man.” The righteous, that is, those whose trust is in the Lord, will flourish with life and vitality like foliage. 11:29 There are several types of men who trouble their own housethe drunkard, the crank, and the adulterer, for instance. But here it is probably the man who is greedy of gain (see Pro_15:27), and who loses sight of the worthwhile values of life in his mad quest for wealth. He will inherit the wind, that is, end up with nothing tangible to satisfy his greed. His penalty for thus playing the fool will be servitude to a man who acts more wisely. 11:30 A righteous life is like a fruit-bearing tree that brings nourishment and refreshment to others. The wise man wins others to a life of wisdom and righteousness. This is one of the great texts for soul winners in the Bible. It reminds us of the promise which Jesus made to Peter, “You will catch men” (Luk_5:10). What an unspeakable privilege it is to be used of God in doing a work in human lives that will result in eternal blessing! Every soul won to the Lord will be a worshiper of the Lamb of God forever and ever! 11:31 Even righteous people are recompensed in this life for their misdeeds. Moses was excluded from the Promised Land and David had to restore fourfold. If the righteous reap what they sow, how much more do the ungodly! Or, as Peter put it, “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1Pe_4:18).