Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11:1

1. • A False balance is abomination to the LORD: + Lev. xix. but + a jull weight is his delight.

Some appearances of honestly there may be, without religion; but there can be no religion towards God, where there is not honestly towards man. God abhors all fraudulent dealings, and however a man may by thrift weights and measures increase his profits, he is only treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath: but a jull weight, and conscientious integrity is our dealings, is his delight, as being the evidence of his fear, and love in our hearts.

2. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but + Chap. xx. with the lowly is wisdom.

All is from God; to think, speak, or act aright is solely his gift, and without him we can do nothing to please him: or it may be rendered as a concussion, that though the preparations of the heart are in man, and he hath the overblushing, as the word signifies, of his thoughts; yet, unless God gives him utterance, his memory will fail, his tongue hesitate, or his speech be confounded.

2. ’ All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Proverbs 11:2

Pride and shame are, like the body and shadow, inseparable. Among men, every one wishes to mortify the arrogant; and God will certainly bring the lofty low in the day of recompense, when Satan’s sin will meet Satan’s punishment: but with the lowly, who have a humble taste of themselves, and poor attainments, there is wisdom; they judge rightly of themselves, find favour with men, and acceptance with God.

3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: + Chap. xiii. but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

We are too apt to be partial to ourselves, and the self-righteous especially, ignorant of the perfection of God’s law, are ready to think they can and do obey it, so as to obtain life thereby: but our self-deceit will appear when God weighs us in the balance of his sanctuary; he trieth the heart, and all the righteousness in fallen man will be found utterly defective, both in principle and practice.

3. ’ Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 11:3

Where the heart is sincere before God, there we shall never willingly denate from the path of truth, and we may comfortably expect the Spirit of God to teach us the right way, and guide us in it; but destruction is in the sinner’s road, and his perverseness in rejecting the teachings of God’s word hurries him on to his ruin.

4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Whilst we take the helm into our own hands, our affairs both of body and soul will be in a dangerous way, and ready each moment to suffer shipwreck; but all is safe when our care is cast upon him, the storm of anxiety then will be calmed, and our voyage to the shores of eternal rest fore to be safe and prosperous.

4. ’ The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Proverbs 11:4

Whatever defence riches are now, they profit nothing in a day of wrath; unable to protect us from the stroke of death, or to buy us off at the bar of judgment; and therefore we should put the less value on what can be of so little advantage to us, and be the more solicitous to obtain the true riches of grace, even that righteousness, imputed and implanted, which delivereth from death; takes out sin, the flung of it, here, and saves us from eternal death hereafter.

5. The righteousness of the perfect shall + direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but + transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

v. 5, 6. Perfect righteousness and uprightness is indeed to be found in Christ alone; but by faith we are compleat in him, and, renewed by his grace, are enabled to make great pains for our feet, are preserved from falling in the hour of temptation, and delivered from the power of death: whilst the wicked and transgressors shall be cut off in the midst of their career, and perish by the very methods whereby they thought to avert their judgment.

7. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

The great Author of all designed in all his works to shew forth his own glory, nor shall the apostasy of angels, or the sins of men, defeat his purposes; the creatures that glorify not the riches of his grace in their salvation, shall glorify the severity of his justice and the greatness of his power in their damnation.

5. ’ Every one that is proud in heart, is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 11:5

Pride of heart, whether on worldly greatness, or conceit of our own excellence above other men, is God’s abomination; nor let the shout-hearted be secure in their numbers, power, or policy; he is able to abate them, his truth hath engaged for it, his business demands, and his power will execute upon them condign punishment.

Proverbs 11:7

Many flatter themselves with delusive hopes, whom death will quickly undeceive: then the worldling will see the fruits of his injustice fire from him; and the self-righteous by-

9 A poetise, Before Chall 2000. crise, who dreamed of heaven, be terribly surprised to find his foul in hell. 1 Chap. xii. 18. 8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and 8. 8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and 9. 8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

Proverbs 11:8

Before death comes, God is pleased sometimes even here

to distinguish the righteous from the wicked, by the dispensations of his providence, delivering the one out of their troubles,

and bringing the other into those very miseries they plotted against the just. Mordecai was advanced, but Hamam hung on

the very gallows he had erected for him. a Job vii. 15.

9. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Proverbs 11:9

The tongue is a mortal poison. By batteries, false

doctrines, and artful seduction, the hypocrite destroyeth his neighbour, drawing him into sin, and thereby into misery; but through

knowledge of God’s word, shall the just be guarded against the temptor’s wilks, and delivered from the destruction intended. 1 Chap. seven. 15. all. 8 Chap. min. 8. 10. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

v. 10, 11. Whether others are like them or not, yet the prosperity and advancement of good men is matter of general joy,

because, as magistrates, they use their power, or as men of wealth, their substance, for the good of their fellow citizens. By the blessing of the upright, through God’s blessing upon them, or their prayers, advice, and kindness, the city is exalted, and all who dwell with them fare the better for them: but the wicked are the plague and curse of the places where they dwell; they corrupt their manners, and bring down God’s wrath upon them. When they are cut off therefore by death, or their

power, influence, and authority are broken, it is matter of general joy, and all who have any sense of goodness, or knowledge of their own interests, shout at their fall.

Heb. Heart.

12. He that is void of wisdom, despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13. A tale-bearer revealed secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. v. 12, 13. Two marks of folly and sin are here censured, (1.) Contemptuous treatment of our neighbour, either in looks or words, proceeding from the conceit of our own superior wisdom or holiness. (2.) Tale-bearing, going from house to house, revealing what was spoken in secrecy, sowing discord, and doing mischief irreparable. Far different is the conduct of the wise; if he can say no good of his neighbour, he will be silent; if provoked, will never answer in opportune language; what is trusted to his bosom, is sacred; and he seeks to cover under the veil of oblivion, whatever might be to the prejudice of another. n 1 Kings xx. 1, &c.

Proverbs 11:26

12. Heb. Words of pianistiasis.

13. ’ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

Though thoughts are invisible to us, yet God trieth the hearts, and less and abhors the imaginations of the wicked, which are only evil, and that continually: but the thoughts of the pure, being cleansed by the inspiration of his holy spirit, their words please him, they are edifying and acceptable, the fruit of the root of grace he hath implanted.

Proverbs 11:27

20. He that is greedy of gain, ’ troubleth his own house: but he that hateth gifts shall live.

They who are in haste to be rich, and with anxious and ceaseless pursuit slave for the world, both weary themselves, and plague and harash all around them; bringing withal the earle of God upon their gains, that like the worm at Jonah’s guard, will cause it to wither: but he that hateth gifts, and for no advantage can he be bred to speak a false word, or do a wrong thing, shall live; his comfort shall be secured, and his real interest be thereby advanced, for honesty will in the end be found ever the best policy.

28. The heart of the righteous studied to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poured out evil things.

Proverbs 11:28

A good man takes heed to his words; knowing he must be accountable for them, he thinks before speaks, and weighs a question before he answers it: but the wicked, thoughtless of consequences, lets go what is uppermost, and the evil of his heart gushes forth as a fountain, without thought of the mischief done to others, the dishonour cast on God, or the ruin he is bringing on himself.

29. ’ The LORD is far from the wicked: but ’ he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 11:29

Though God he near the wicked, to seize them for vengeance, he is far from them respecting any honour or communion, and hears or grants none of their prayers, and shortly they will be eternally banished from his presence: but no prayer of the righteous is offered in vain; more ready to give than we to ask, he is a sure and present help to all that call upon him faithfully.

30. The sight of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

Proverbs 11:30

As the beautiful prospect gladdena the eye and makes the heart gay, so doth good news enliven, and is heard with pleasure: but the heart’s greatest joy is to behold a reconciled God in Christ, and the prospect of eternal glory; and the best report is that which the gospel brings, disluding present gladness in the soul, the foretaste of eternal bliss.

31. The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

Proverbs 11:31

The reproofs of life are those which are drawn from the life-giving word, urged with affectionate warmth upon the conscience, and tending to the spiritual and eternal life of those who receive them; they that with attentive ear regard them, are in the way to be numbered with the wise.

32. He that refuseh instruction, despiseh his own soul: but he that heareth reproof, § geteth understanding.

Proverbs 11:32

He that refuseh instruction, or correction, whether from God, or those let in authority over him, dispiseh his own soul; shows his ignorance of the value of it, and for the indulgences of the perishing flesh, willfully destroy his spirit, which is immortal: but he that heareth reproof, and submits to it, geteth understanding, and grows wise and better thereby.

33. ’ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and ’ before honour is humility.

Proverbs 11:33

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, by it we are taught how to walk and please God; and before honour is humility; the lower we lie in our own eyes, the more certain and eminent will be our exaltation of God.

C H A P. XVI.

1. ’ THE preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.