Proverbs 11

1 God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.

2 The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.

3 The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

4 A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.

5 Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life.

6 Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.

7 When the wicked die, that's it - the story's over, end of hope.

8 A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it.

9 The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them.

10 When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.

11 When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.

12 Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.

13 A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.

14 Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.

15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.

16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot. A God-Shaped Life

17 When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.

18 Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.

19 Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.

20 God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.

21 Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.

23 The desires of good people lead straight to the best, but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.

24 The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

26 Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!

27 The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.

28 A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.

29 Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live.

30 A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.

31 If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!

Proverbs 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Verse 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. Verse 2 . Considering how safe, and quiet, and easy the humble are, we see that with the lowly is wisdom. Verse 3 . An honest man's principles are fixed, therefore his way is plain. Verse 4 . ( proverbs 11:5-6 ) The ways of wickedness are dangerous. And sin will be its own punishment. Verse 7 . When a godly man dies, all his fears vanish; but when a wicked man dies, his hopes vanish. Verse 8 . The righteous are often wonderfully kept from going into dangerous situations, and the ungodly go in their stead. Verse 9 . Hypocrites delude men into error and sin by artful objections against the truths of ( proverbs 11:10-11 ) down. Verse 12 . A man of understanding does not judge of others by their success. Verse 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. Verse 14 . We shall often find it to our advantage to advise with others. Verse 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. Verse 16 . A pious and discreet woman will keep esteem and respect, as strong men keep possession of wealth. Verse 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. Verse 18 . He that makes it his business to do good, shall have a reward, as sure to him as eternal truth can make it. Verse 19 . True holiness is true happiness. The more violent a man is in sinful pursuits, the more he hastens his own destruction. Verse 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. Verse 21 . Joining together in sin shall not protect the sinners. Verse 22 . Beauty is abused by those who have not discretion or modesty with it. This is true of all bodily endowments. Verse 23 . The wicked desire mischief to others, but it shall return upon themselves. Verse 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. Verse 25 . Both in temporal and spiritual things, God commonly deals with his people according to the measure by which they deal with their brethren. Verse 26 . We must not hoard up the gifts of God's bounty, merely for our own advantage. Verse 27 . Seeking mischief is here set against seeking good; for those that are not doing good are doing hurt, even to themselves. Verse 28 . The true believer is a branch of the living Vine. When those that take root in the world wither, those who are grafted into Christ shall be fruitful. Verse 29 . He that brings trouble upon himself and his family, by carelessness, or by wickedness, shall be unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is unable to hold the wind, or to satisfy himself with it. Verse 30 . The righteous are as trees of life; and their influence upon earth, like the fruits of that tree, support and nourish the spiritual life in many. Verse 31 . Even the righteous, when they offend on earth, shall meet with sharp corrections; much more will the wicked meet the due reward of their sins. Let us then seek those blessings which our Surety purchased by his sufferings and death; let us seek to copy his example, and to keep his commandments.