Proverbs 11:18

18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

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Proverbs 11:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 11:18

The wicked worketh a deceitful work
Such a wicked man as before described; that neither enjoys the good things of life he has, nor suffers others to enjoy them; and all to accumulate riches, which are deceitful and perishing; and who abstains from meats, which God has created for use, under a pretence of religion, and so deceives his own soul; and indeed every sin which a wicked man commits is a deceitful work; it promises him that pleasure, or profit, or liberty, which it does not give him, and in the issue is the ruin of him; and so all false doctrines, propagated by deceitful workers, are deceitful works, by which they deceive the simple, and at last themselves; they "obtain a deceitful reward of [their] work", as Gussetius F23 renders it; but to him that soweth righteousness;
does acts of beneficence and liberality; see ( 2 Corinthians 9:9 2 Corinthians 9:10 ) ; and all other good works, or works of righteousness, [shall be] a sure reward;
according to what a man sows, and the manner in which he sows, so shall he reap, ( 2 Corinthians 9:6 ) ( Galatians 6:8 ) ; or, "a reward of truth"; instead of being given up to believe a lie, he shall receive the love of the truth, and abide in it, which will bring him to eternal glory and happiness; he being chosen to it through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, ( 2 Thessalonians 2:10-13 ) ; and, instead of a deceitful reward, shall have a true, real, solid, and substantial one.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Ebr. Comment. p. 692.

Proverbs 11:18 In-Context

16 A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
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