Proverbs 11

Of a false balance, verse 1. Of pride and humility, 2. Of uprightness, and perverseness in conversation, 3.20. Of the riches of the wicked, 4.28. Of hypocrisy, 9. Of the righteous and the wicked, 9,10,11,18,21,23,28,30,31. Of despising ones neighbour, 12. Of backbiting, 13. Of counsellors, 14. Of suretiship, 15. Of a good and bad woman, 16,22. Of mercifulness and cruelty, 17. Of liberality and covetousfulness, 24,25,26. Of good and evil, 27. Of unruly housekeeping, 29.

1. A Deceitful balance [Hebr. Balance of deceit, so Hos.12.7. Amos 8:5. also balances of iniquity, Mich.6.1. The contrary are the balances of righteousness, Lev.19.36. Job 31:6.] is an abomination to the LORD, [Hebr. The Lords abomination; that is, which God esteemeth and accounteth an abomination; see Deut.17.on verse 1. And above chapter 3. On verse 32.] but a perfect weigh-stone [that is, weight; see Lev.19.on ver.36.] is his delight. [that is, is acceptable and well-pleasing unto him. See above chapter 10.on verse 32.Compare Leviticus 19:36. Deut.25.13. Prov.16.11. and 20.10,23.]

2. When pride cometh, (then) will also shame come: [To wit, by the just providence God, who useth commonly to punish sins with judgements, that are parallel or like unto the sins. For because proud persons despise other men, and especially humble men, and such as are brought low and pressed down by afflictions and crosses, therefore they are oftentimes brought to a fall, and to a low ebbe, and so justly rewarded with shame and disgrace. Compare below chapter 15.33. and 16.18. and 18.12.] but with the humble [or, mannerly, courteous, lowly] is wisdom. [to wit, so as not to come to shame or disgrace by reason of pride, whereby they continue in honour and repute with all wise and understanding men, and such as judge rightly. Compare below chapter 15. 33. And 18.12.]

3. The integrity of the upright them: [To wit, it leadeth and guideth them in the right way, in which they sincerely walk toward the good end of their journey where they would be. Compare below chapter 13.6.] but the perverseness of the faithless [to wit, whereby they seek to cousin and wrong their neighbour] disturbeth them. [that is, destroyeth them utterly. Oth. Layeth them waste, or spoileth them.]

4. Wealth profiteth not [To wit, the wicked] in the day of wrath: [to wit, in the day of Gods wrath and indignation. See 2 Chron.chapter 28. On verse 13. That is, at such a time, when God doth manifest his wrath, by sending out his judgements upon men. So Job 20.on verse 28. Compare above chapter 10.2. Ezek.7.9. Zephan.1.18.] but righteousness delivereth from death. [see above chap.10.on verse 2.]

5. The righteousness of the upright maketh his way straight: [That is, causeth him to walk aright in the good way, so that he at last cometh where he would be, to wit, to everlasting bliss. Compare above chapter 3.8. and the annot.] but the wicked falleth [to wit, in his evil way, so that he perisheth in it, without coming to an happy and blessed end] by his (own) wickedness.

6. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: [To wit, according to the gracious promise, that God hath made unto them. Comp. This with the end of the foregoing fourth verse] but the faithless are caught in (their own) perverseness. [that is, overtaken, and ensnared in the evil and mischief, which they intended to do unto others, so that it tendeth to their own destruction. Compare Psalms 7:16. below chapter 26. Verse 27. Eccles.10.8. The Hebrew word rendered here perverseness, is so taken below chap.17.4.]

7. When the wicked man dieth, his expectation perisheth: [To wit, the expectation that he had, to live here yet a while at ease and in prosperity by reason of his wealth and means; or do here yet some mischief, whereby he might in a manner be able to benefit himself, those that belong to him, and others that rely and depend upon him] even the strongest hope [Hebr. The hope of strengths; or, firmnesses, or powers; that is, very strong, firm, or mighty hope, to wit, which the wicked had. Or, hope of strengths; that is, of all things, wherein he set his hope] is perished. [Oth. And the hope of unjust men perisheth.]

8. The righteous is delivered out of distress: [Compare Psalms 34:20.] and the wicked cometh in his stead. [That is, in trouble, or distress, as if he were given for a ransom, to release the godly man. Compare below chap.21.18. Isa.43.3.]

9. The hypocrite [What an hypocrite is, see Job 8.on verse 13.] destroyeth his neighbour with (his) mouth: [to wit, by his collaging and dissembling speech, enticing him to sin, and demeaning himself as if he were his fast friend, whereas he is indeed his greatest enemy] but the righteous are delivered [to wit, from the deceit of the hypocrite] by knowledge. [to wit, whereby the righteous understand, that sins ought to be avoided, because they are forbidden by God, and punished by him, and that the hypocrite ought not to be believed.]

10. A City [That is, the inhabitants of a City that is in good plight, being furnished with good government, and good Citizens. City put for the inhabitants of it, as Gen.35.5. 1 Sam.4.13. 1 Kings 1:41. Isa.14.31. Mat.ch.21. verse 10. &c.] leapeth for joy, at the prosperity of the righteous: [Hebr. In the good, &c. Which may here be understood of the outward prosperity of the godly. See the word good so taken, Job 21:13. and compare the annotations] and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11. By the blessing of the upright, [That is, by the blessing which they receive of God, and consequently which they speak, the prayers which they make, the counsel which they give, and the mercies which they shew] a City is exalted: but by the mouth of the wicked [to wit, who teach and maintain false doctrine, make bad laws, and give out hurtful speeches against the Commonwealth] it is broken.

12. He that is void of understanding, despiseth his neighbour: [To wit, having not onely a bad opinion of him in his heart, but also speaking ill of him with his mouth] but a man of great understanding [Heb. Of understandings] holdeth his peace. [that is, hath a good opinion of him, and speaketh not ill of him, yea nothing at all, when it may consist with the love of God, and of his neighbour.]

13. He that walketh (as) a back-biter, [See the proper signification of the original phrase, Lev.19.on verse 16.] revealeth the thing that is secret: but he that is faithful in spirit, [that is, in will, intention, and affection, so as not to be like the tale-bearers, back-biters, or slanderers, see of the word spirit taken in this signification, 2 Kin.19.on verse 7.] covereth the matter.

14. When there are no wise counsels, [See of the word rendered here wise counsels Job 37.v.12.] the people fall: [See 1 Kin.12.1, &c.] but in the multitude of Counsellors [to wit, of those that fear God, understand matters aright, and love the welfare of the people] (there) is preservation.

15. When (any one) [This word must often be inserted to supply and fill up the sense, as Exod.22.9. bel.ch.20.v.16.& 27.13,&c.] is become surety (for) [this word is here inserted from ch.6.v.1.] a stranger, [see ab.ch.6.on v.1.] he shall surely be broken: [Heb. Breaking, be broken; to wit, either through care and trouble, which he shall have, or through the loss and damage that he shall suffer, or through both] but whoso hateth them that strike (hands), [that is, those that strike hands, to signify that they promise payment. See ab.ch.6.ver.1. and the annot.] is safe. [or, secure, or, quiet.]

16. A gracious wife [Heb. A woman of grace; that is, which is gracious and acceptable, to wit, by reason of her vertues] holdeth honour fast; [to wit, the honour of understanding, chastity, modesty, friendliness, prudent and wise house-keeping] as [so is the letter vau sometimes taken. See Job 5.on verse 7.] mighty men hold riches fast. [to wit, so that they will not suffer them to be taken from them.]

17. A merciful man [Hebr. A man of mercifulness, or, bounty, or, liberality. So a man of knowledge; that is, a knowing, and understanding man, below chapter 24 25. A man of truth, or faithfulness; that is, a true or faithful man, Nehemiah chapter 7. Verse 2. A man of peace; that is, one that is peaceable, Psalms 41:10. men of holiness; that is, holy men, saints, Exodus 22:31, &c. Compare Job 11.on ver.11.] doth good [the Hebrew word signifieth sometimes so do good to a man, as here, and Psalms 13:6. Isa.63.7. sometimes to doe hurt, as Isaiah 3:9. Properly it signifieth to reward, or recompence, whether good, or evil. See 2 Chronicles 20.on verse 11.] to his (own) soul. [that is, to himself. See 1 Kin.chapter 19.on verse 4.] but he that is cruel, troubleth his (own) flesh. [to wit, not onely by taking unnecessary care, or more care then is needful, but also by refusing of necessary food, apparel, and habitation.]

18. The wicked doth a false work: [Hebr. A work of falsehood: that is, work that is not good, which bringeth in no profit, nor benefit, nor reward, but is altogether vain and fruitless] but (for) him that soweth righteousness, [that is, that doth good works: which indeed is done with labour and pains, but also with expectation of a gracious harvest. Compare Hosea chapter 10.verse 12. Galat.6.verse 8.Of sowing iniquity, see Job 4.on verse 8.] (there) is a faithful reward. [Hebr. A reward of faithfulness, or, truth.]

19. So is righteousness unto life; as he that hunteth after evil, (hunteth) after his (own) death.

20. The forward in heart [Meaning those that in matter of faith and love, are not sincere and upright. See of the forwardness or perverseness of the heart, Psalms 101:4. above chapter 6.14. below chapter 12.8. and 17.20. Jeremiah 17:9.] are an abomination unto the LORD: but the upright in way, [so Psalms 119:1. The meaning is, those that in point of doctrine and life, are down-right, sincere, unfeigned, pure in mind and heart] are his delight. [that is, are well-pleasing and acceptable unto him. So above verse 1. And below chapter 12 22. And 15.8.]

21. Hand to hand, [That is, from hand to hand] the wicked shall not be guiltless; [That is, not go unpunished. See 1 Kings 2.on verse 9. Not onely in his own person, but also in his posterity, that walk in his wicked ways. Compare Exodus 20:5. and Deut.5.9. Oth. (though) hand (were) in hand, the wicked, &c. That is, though the wicked at such time when he is in danger, should have the help of all men, to rid and deliver him out of it, yet shall he in no wise escape the punishing hand of God. Hand is here taken for help, as 2 Sam.3.12. and 14.19. Nehem.2.18. Psalms 119:173. below chapter 16.5.] but the seed [That is, children and posterity. See Gen.4.25, and 9.9. and the annot.] of the righteous shall escape. [to wit, by the hand and help of God.]

22. A fair woman, that declineth from reason; [Or, reasonableness, rationality. Hebr. From taste, or savour; to wit, the taste or savour of the spirit. This is the understanding, and judgement of man. See Job 12.on verse 20.] is a golden jewel [see of the signification of the Hebrew word, Gen.24.on verse 22.] ink a swines snout.

23. The desire of the righteous is onely the thing that is good: [To wit, when they walk right and straight in the way of righteousness, and stumble not in it through human frailty] but the expectation of the wicked is indignation. [that is, hatred, envy, malice, enmity, forwardness, or pettishness, whereby they cause trouble and disquietness among men, and provoke the just wrath and indignation of God against themselves.]

24. There is one that scattereth abroad, [To scatter abroad here, is liberally to impart and communicate of a mans goods where need requireth. So Psalms 112:9. In which sense also the word sowing is used, 2 Cor.9.6.] to whom yet more is added; and (there is) one that withholdeth more then is meet, [for the rich, yea every one according to his ability, is bound to communicate unto the poor] but it is unto want. [that is, he growth not rich thereby.]

25. The blessed soul [Heb. The soul of blessing; that is, the soul, that by well-doing is a blessing unto other men. See ab.on v.11.] shall be made fat, [that is, shall be more blessed, and shall prosper exceedingly. See the same phrase bel.ch.13.4. and 15.30. and 28.25.] and he that moisteneth, [that is, he that liberally distributeth unto the poor, as a dry ground is moistened with water] shall also himself become an early rain. [that is, shall be abundantly watered with blessing of God, and be so moistened, as if he himself were even a rain: whereby he shall also get more means, to proceed and go on in well-doing: Compare Psalms 112:9.]

26. He that withholdeth corn, the people curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of the seller.

27. He that early seeketh after good, [That is, doth diligently good unto his neighbour] seeketh acceptation: [to wit, so, as that he also findeth and getteth it: to wit, the favour and acceptation, whereby he is acceptable both to God and good man] but whoso endeavoureth after [or, mindeth] evil, it shall come upon him. [see Ps.7.17. and 9.16. and 10.2. and 57.7,]

28. Whoso trusteth in his riches, he shall fall; but the righteous [That is, those that trust not in riches, but in God alone, according to his commandments, Ps.62.11,12.] shall flourish as a leaf. [that is, shall prosper, and be blessed. Compare Psalm 1,34. And 72.7. and 92.13. Isa.27.6. Hos.14.6.]

29. He that troubleth his (own) house, [Meaning, he that by unruly house keeping, and wasting of his estate, maketh his family poor and bare, & so grieveth them. Comp. Gen.34.30. and the annot.] shall inherit it the wind; [that is, slave or vassal, to get a livelihood. Comp.Gen.47.19.] of him, that is wise of heart. [that is, that knoweth how to keep house.]

30. The fruit of the righteous [That is, his instruction, and virtuous life] is a tree of life: [that is, as a tree of life, that bringeth forth the thing that is good; whereby a man is nourished, and strengthened unto eternal life. Compare above chap.3.on verse 18.] and he that catcheth souls, [that is, he that draweth men to the knowledge of God, Mat.4.19.] is wise.

31. Behold, the righteous is recompensed in the earth; [That is, punished for his sins. See of the Hebrew word, Job 21,on verse 19.] how much more the wicked, and the sinner? [that is, who excelleth and overtoppeth others in sin, and wickedness, and maketh it his whole business to commit sin. See 1 Sam.15.on verse 18. And Psalm 1.on verse 1. Compare 1 Pet.5.17,18.]