Proverbs 11:5

5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

Proverbs 11:5 in Other Translations

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

5 The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

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

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

5 The righteousness of innocent people makes their road smooth, but wicked people fall by their own wickedness.

5 The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

5 The ways of honest people are made straight because they do what is right. But those who do what is wrong are brought down by their own sins.

Proverbs 11:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 11:5

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way
Or "make [it] plain" ^F6; that is, the righteousness of those who are perfect in Christ, complete in him, perfectly justified by his righteousness; that righteousness makes their way plain; it is the direct way, the highway, the pathway to eternal life and happiness; see ( Proverbs 12:28 ) ; but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness;
or, "in his wickedness" ^F7: in his own wicked way, which he has chosen and delights to walk in; he shall stumble therein, and fall into ruin and destruction, into hell and damnation: or by means or because of it he will fall; his wickedness will be the cause of his fall; as it will be the cause of the fall of Babylon, ( Revelation 18:2 Revelation 18:5 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F6 (rvyt) "rectam facit", Cocceius; "complanat viam ejus", Schultens.
F7 (wtevrb) "in impietate sua", Tigurine version, Montanus, Baynus, Michaelis; "improbitate sua", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in injustitia sua", Cocceius; "in improbitate sua turbulenta", Schultens.

Proverbs 11:5 In-Context

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Kings 8:36
• 2. S ver 3; Proverbs 5:21-23; Proverbs 13:6; Proverbs 21:7