PROVERBS 11:1-12:28
One of the most powerful ways to get a clearer understanding of a concept is to see it in contrast with its opposite. Here in chapters 11 and 12, there are many statements that contrast a life of righteousness to a life of wickedness. Listed below are a few examples of what righteousness looks like versus what wickedness looks like. After reviewing these examples, I encourage you to make your own list from these two chapters. Hold onto the list as a reference as to how you make decisions and the actions you take. By integrating these principles into your life, you will, over time, be amazed at the results. You will find how they are directly related to the fruit of righteousness versus wicked thoughts and actions.
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| Proverbs 11:1-12:28
2 When pride comes, then comes shame; 3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, 5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, 6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, 7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, 9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, 12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, 13 A talebearer reveals secrets, 14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; 15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, 16 A gracious woman retains honor, 17 The merciful man does good for his own soul, 18 The wicked man does deceptive work, 19 As righteousness leads to life, 20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, 21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; 22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, 23 The desire of the righteous is only good, 24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; 25 The generous soul will be made rich, 26 The people will curse him who withholds grain, 27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, 28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, 29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, 31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, 1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, 2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD, 3 A man is not established by wickedness, 4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right, 6 The words of the wicked are, "Lie in wait for blood," 7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, 8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom, 9 Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, 10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, 11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, 12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men, 13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, 14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, 16 A fool's wrath is known at once, 17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, 18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, 19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, 21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, 22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, 23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, 24 The hand of the diligent will rule, 25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, 26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, 27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, 28 In the way of righteousness is life, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Proverbs 11:1-12:28 v. 1 dishonest scales – Scales and balances were used to determine product value for shopkeepers and bankers and some used dishonest scales. This is against God's commandment (Lev. 19:35) and here we see that God hates such dishonesty, but instead delights in honest transactions. v. 2 pride – Often referred to as the original sin. Pride comes before destruction (Prov. 16:18) and also shame, according to this verse. The opposite of pride, humility before God, leads us to exaltation by God (James 4:10). God desires a broken and contrite spirit (Ps. 34:18, 51:17) and is near to those who possess such. Humility is evident by the submission of one's own will to that of the Lord his God. This is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10, 111:10). v. 3 integrity – The upright are subject to honest actions. Their passion is to do justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with their God. This guide is a requirement for the believer mandated by God (Micah 6:8). He who shuns the counsel of God will always end in ruin. v. 4 riches and righteousness – Even here in this life it is righteousness that will deliver us from self destruction (Prov. 11:5-6). On the day we stand before God, all the riches in the world will not be enough to purchase our pardon from the Creator. Every man will stand and give an account for his actions (Heb. 4:13). It is the righteousness of Christ that will deliver God's people from death. It is the heart set upon the eternal hope of Jesus that will escape the day of wrath (Matt. 6:19-21). v. 5 blameless – Having no fault, guiltless. No man can work himself into guiltlessness, for the scriptures say there are none who are righteous (Rom. 3:10, Ecc. 7:20). The righteousness of the blameless comes from God, for it cannot be of man. It is the wicked person's unrighteous works that will condemn him in the end. v. 6 unfaithful/ transgressor – The unfaithful excel in and are condemned by their various lusts. The lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life are the common road to destruction, but the one who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:16). v. 7 wicked man dies – The luster of this world ceases at death. We take nothing with us into the next life, thus the hopes of this world end when these bodies end. As Job shared in Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return there." Without Christ hope shall perish (Luke 21:34-36). v. 8 delivered – God is strong for those who are loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9). Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego, and Daniel are all classic testimonies of God's faithfulness to His people. The book of 2 Samuel says that God is "a shield to all who trust Him" (22:31). the wicked instead – As God delivers the righteous from the schemes of the wicked He often turns their own wicked schemes back upon them. Haman the Agagite received his own execution by the gallows he created to unjustly kill Mordecai and every other Jew he could get his hands on (Es. 7:7-10). The righteous are delivered "and it comes upon the wicked instead." v. 9 hypocrite – chaneph (Heb.) which refers to someone who is impious or soiled (i.e. with sin). Here it is used to describe a divisive, slanderous ungodly, malicious person; an infidel. through knowledge – Proverbs 1:7 explains that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. This concept was more about spiritual knowledge imparted by God to see through evil and choose good. v. 10 the city rejoices – When things go well for those that are good, many who surround them take part in their blessing, especially when these good men are men of influence (i.e., Joseph's life in Gen. 37-50, Daniel). jubilation – When a tyrant ceases to exist there is great relief to those who were tormented by him. Liberation from cruelty is cause for great rejoicing. Jewish history is filled with this sort of "liberation jubilation" (Exodus, Judges and the more recent holocaust). v. 11 blessing of the upright – God blesses a city for the sake of the upright and their intercessions for it (Gen. 18:22-33). A righteous man with power and influence makes many allies and cares for the prosperity of his people. A foolish leader provokes his enemies to wrath against him. He causes all who are near him to suffer a similar fate (Prov. 29:8). v. 12 devoid of understanding – By definition the fool lacks understanding, yet makes boasts about things he does not know. His assumptions justify his contempt for his neighbor, even though he is without a reasonable cause. holds his peace – A wise man holds his judgments. He is sensible and not quick to assume anything. He refuses to taunt his neighbor and looks into a matter before he makes a judgment (James 1:19). v. 13 reveals secrets – Choose those you confide in wisely. If a man tells tales to you then he will repeat your tales to others. A faithful friend is very much the opposite (Prov. 10:12). v. 14 no counsel – In a multitude of counselors there is safety from rash decisions and falls to temptations. In the multitude is accountability, guidance, and wisdom to glean from. Without counsel one is left open to the temptations and pitfalls that can snare him. He who has several to counsel him is less susceptible to make rash decisions. v. 15 surety for a stranger – It is difficult enough to be held accountable to pay off a debt you have incurred. How much more the debt of a stranger? Solomon makes it clear that if you make yourself liable to pay off a stranger's debt, you will suffer for it. will suffer – People with good intentions often enable a person in debt to slither out of their responsibility. When the debtor runs into trouble, acts of kindness from friends take the burden off him and places it on their shoulders. The debtor's character is not changed, his property remains, yet his friend now bears the burden of his debt. v. 16 a gracious woman – One translation reads (from the Septuagint), "A gracious woman raises up honor to the man…" Both translations convey the idea of a gracious woman being the testament of honor. She is both a receiver and a source of honor in her home. ruthless men – There are some men who kill and destroy in order to gain more riches. Their greed is the compulsion of their deeds of violence because their wealth is more valuable than their honor (James 4:1-4). v. 17 the merciful man – The merciful will be shown mercy when their time comes. Such a man builds a network of kindness and favor around him. He need not worry about revenge or retaliation from many enemies. His soul is at peace. His conscience can rest easy for he has no regret of cruelty. troubles his own flesh – The wicked have no rest (Is. 57:20-21). The wickedness of the wicked is their judge. They live in anxiety and are always having to look over their shoulder in fear of revenge or retaliation against them. Their lifestyle causes harm to their health. Psalm 37:8 says, "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm" (also Prov. 21:7, Ps. 11:5). v. 18 sows righteousness – Galatians 6:10 says, "…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Let us do good. This is righteousness because God is good (Matt. 19:17). Thus those who sow righteousness sow the seeds of God in this world. God will reward his laborers. v. 19 righteousness leads to life – "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3-8). Righteousness is more than just good works; it is believing on God who justifies by faith. This is true righteousness. Righteous works are the fruit of righteous faith and forgiven sins. he who pursues evil – From Genesis to Revelation this truth is consistent. Scripture consistently warns us about pursuing evil. It will always end in death (Rom. 6:23). Matthew 7:13 exhorts us to, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it" (also Prov. 10:29). v. 20 perverse heart – iqqesh (Heb.), meaning crooked. This expression is equal to a twisted mind that is continually thinking evil thoughts and takes that which is good and flips it to become a device for evil (Gen. 6:5-7). God hates such thinking but delights in the blameless and pure in heart. v. 21 though they join forces – It is ironic that the wicked feel a sense of loyalty (family) to one another and they mix Biblical concepts with evil deeds. They share their lives with one another, despise betrayal, encourage and support one another, yet their deeds are wicked (2 Tim. 3:2-7). posterity of the righteous – Godly men usually raise up godly children. Though this isn't always the case due to free will, it is the notion conveyed in this verse (Prov. 22:6). The children of both the righteous and the wicked will reap what has been sown in their hearts. v. 22 in a swine's snout – A pig was an unclean beast, horrible and detestable to the Jews. Once a precious gold ring has touched the pig it is rendered a waste. In the metaphor it is lack of discretion and loose conduct that renders a good-looking woman's beauty useless on her (1 Peter 3:3-4). v. 23 The desire of the righteous – The righteous have learned to delight in the law of God (Ps. 1:1-3; 40:8; 119:77). As a result the righteous have God's goodness and favor for them to rest in until the end. The wicked can hope for no more than to pay for their wicked works in eternity. v. 24 one who scatters – God will always bless the giving heart (Acts 20:35). withhold more than is right – Greed is a spoiler of a man's conscience. It ruined Ananias and Sapphira and caused them to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11). Greed causes a man to fight and lie in order to hold onto what he has and not give it away (James 4:1-6, 2 Cor. 9:6). Also see Sampson's story from Judges 13:24-16:31. v. 25 generous soul – God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-8). The generous soul does not give out of obligation, but out of love and the joy of seeing another blessed. They willingly lay down their lives for another, thus the evidence of God's love abides in them (1 John 3:16-19). They are blessed to bless. They are filled with the delight of God's grace working through them. v. 27 seeks good – He who is in constant pursuit of goodness and justice obtains the admiration of those near to him and his reputation. If you seek to do good, you will find that goodness will find you. trouble will come – He who is in pursuit of evil will find evil; the evil that he devises will eventually be repaid to him (Gen. 6:5-8). v. 28 trusts in his riches – Riches cannot buy eternal security, salvation, nor God's favor (Prov. 3:5-6). It was riches that caused the young ruler to forfeit the opportunity to follow Jesus. Jesus mentions the difficulty of those who trust in their riches to know God (Mark 10:23-25). v. 29 troubles his own house – A divisive man pulls apart his own household and if he continues, he will soon find himself forsaken by all. A fool is described as a lazy man in previous verses (Prov. 10:26). A fool may show himself to be diligent to do all the wrong things thus his restitution is paid under the rule of another. v. 30 fruit of the righteous – The word fruit is often used to describe what is yielded from a person's character, lifestyle, works, obedience, disobedience, etc. (i.e. fruit of the righteous, fruit of the wicked, fruit of the Spirit, etc.). In this verse it is confirmed that what is yielded from righteous living is life in abundance. he who wins souls – This isn't talking about winning souls in the sense of winning someone over to the idea of salvation. It is instead talking about winning the favor of others. It is wise to build a following of people who will get behind you, support, and pray for you because they adore you. v. 31 recompensed – Denotes a reward or repayment. The righteous will be rewarded not just in heaven but also here upon Earth. There is great reward in living in obedience to the King of Life. Chapter 12v. 1 loves instruction – A wise man who is corrected receives wisdom and understanding from the rebuke because often the way to knowledge is through correction. A foolish person perceives correction as an offense. He rejects the wisdom of instruction, thus his foolishness produces greater foolishness. v. 2 obtains favor – Ultimately, it is God who makes a man good because there are none who are innately good in and of themselves (Ps. 14:2-3). As he lives in obedience to God, he recognizes himself to be less than good, yet, at the same time, obtains favor from God because of the process of sanctification by His changing grace. v. 3 not established by wickedness – The wicked are always inventing new ways to perform new feats of evil. A thief can steal a great fortune only to have it stolen by someone more cunning and resourceful than himself. Righteousness is stable because it is good as define by God, who does not change. v. 4 an excellent wife – "Her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her" (Prov 31:10-12). In the times of ancient Judea, women worked hard to support her household (watering the flocks, drawing water and carrying the full basin home on foot, etc.), so this verse can also have a literal interpretation. Strong godly virtues (i.e., diligence, gentleness, and faithfulness) are important jewels in the crown of a righteous man as well. On the contrary, an unreasonable and scandalous woman fills her home with anguish and humiliation. v. 5 thoughts of the righteous – He who keeps his mind upon the things of the Lord will remain in perfect peace (Is. 26:3-4). He is at peace because he trusts God. The scriptures tell us that it was "believing God" that caused the Lord to credit righteousness to Abraham. If a man's thoughts are upon the trustworthiness of God then he is surely right, but if a man's mind is continually upon the gratification of his evil desires then he is deceived for his security is false and short lived. v. 6 mouth of the upright – A kind word turns away wrath (Prov. 15:1-2). The tongue of the wise uses knowledge in his dealings and thus is found blameless. The tongue of wicked is his snare as his guilt is determined by his evil plans. v. 7 the wicked are overthrown – A long life for those who are wicked is uncommon. If the wicked man is not brought down by his enemies, then his life and his house are eventually overtaken by a guilty conscience and an anxious soul. This is God's mercy. A bad seed usually produces fruit worse than itself. The house of the righteous is blessed to continue long in the earth. v. 8 according to his wisdom – God looks at the heart of a man, not the success of his outward feats. Though he may wrestle with the lust of his flesh, his effort to make godly choices in spite of his sin nature is pleasing to God and admirable to men. Putting obedience to the Lord before the lust of the flesh is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). The pursuer of constant evil will not please God and will be loathed by men. v. 9 slighted but has a servant – It is better to be despised and have some form of livelihood than to make oneself despicable by pomp and arrogance and have no livelihood at all. v. 10 regards the life of his animal – A righteous man possesses virtues such as a caring heart and tender mercy. His heart is set on the wellbeing of all who live around him, including his animals. He has a precious regard for life. There is a form of wickedness that is cruel even in its most merciful moments because there is no regard for life in it. A man who makes himself an enemy of God, the Author of life is capable of becoming an enemy of all that is living. v. 11 he who follows frivolity – The old tale of the working ant and the lazy grasshopper explain this proverb to great detail (Prov. 6:6-8). There is a time and a place for merriment but it is certainly not during the time or in the place where there is work to be done. This is described as basic wisdom. He who cannot see this and chooses to play during work hours is lacking in wisdom and must be taught better. v. 12 covet the catch of evil men – The wicked covet the successful works of other evil men and seek to imitate them or take advantage of them to have that success for themselves. Without knowledge, they covet and devour one another. The righteous do not fear one another's antics but see success and then multiply that success in unity. v. 14 by the fruit of his mouth – Kind words filled with pious wisdom yield a great return to the teacher. If a man's words can bring him great reward, then how much more can that man's diligent and good works bring to him. v. 15 a fool is right in his own eyes – A fool is blinded by foolishness. He thinks so much of himself that he is deceived into believing that he doesn't need further counsel (v. 1). He who listens to and keeps wise counsel is wiser for it. v. 16 a prudent man covers shame – A fool cannot restrain himself in his fury but rushes to express it. A wise person will take refuge in discretion and hold his tongue as to not shame himself or the one upon whom his irritation rests. v. 17 truth declares righteousness – Because God will and can only bring forth truth, it is what is right. Thus he who speaks truth speaks the language of righteousness (Eph. 4:14-15). v. 18 tongue of the wise promotes health – There are people who seek no more than to wound the soul of another with their words. Perhaps they've not learned the healing power of tender speech and kind words. This verse contrasts the tongue that wounds with the tongue that heals. The wise tongue promotes healing and refuses to wound but encourages livelihood in the soul. v. 19 truthful lip shall be established forever – Because truth is the language of the eternal God, it will forever be spoken in His eternal kingdom. Every form of evil is temporary and will eventually perish, including the deceitful tongue. v. 20 counselors of peace – Blessed are the peacemakers (Matt. 5:9). The inventor of lies is the devil himself. It is his native tongue. Those who devise evil can do no more than speak the evil language. Those who are the sons of God will do no more than counsel in truth. This brings peace and joy to both the teacher and the listener. v. 21 No grave trouble – For those who love God, He is working all things out for their good (Rom. 8:28). They will never have reason for hopelessness for their hope is in the Lord who is full of strength (Jer. 17:7, Is. 26:4). Paul the apostle elaborates on the strength of the righteous and the revelation of the power of God in their troubles (2 Cor. 4:7-10). v. 22 Lying lips are an abomination – Lying is the language of Satan that ushered sin into the world. It is an abhorrence to God. It is judged along with its creator. Deeds of truth, not just words, are pleasing to God. Truth resides in Him. It is a part of his essence. Those who deal in it are a delight to Him. v. 23 conceals knowledge – "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive" (Prov. 17:28). The wise man does not boast about what he knows and is careful about who he shares intimate details with. It is at the right and appropriate time that he speaks his knowledge. The fool is the opposite. He is boastful about his foolishness as if it were a good thing. He has little discretion about what he says and when it is said. v. 24 the diligent will rule – The diligent person gets things done in a timely manner. He is dependable and faithful (Prov. 20:6). His diligence makes him fit to manage others. The lazy man will eventually be put to work either by the urgency of his needs or by the forced hand of one who subdues and overtakes him. v. 25 anxiety in the heart – Hopelessness is a deep and bitter root of depression. Anxiety can quickly morph into a heart of depression. A downcast spirit needs to know there is hope. A good word, full of hope, can change the state of even the poorest of souls (Is. 61:1-3, 2 Cor. 1:3-4). v. 26 choose his friends carefully – This wise saying is the first chapter on the topic of friendly influence. The second is that "bad company corrupts good habits" (1 Cor. 15:33). Thus a wise man seeks out good and godly character in those who will be his confidants. They will in some form be his counselors. Wicked counsel, given to us by someone we admire, is only a step away from wicked action. v. 27 what he took in hunting – The lazy man is too lazy to carry his kill out of the wilderness or maybe even too lazy to go hunt for food. The diligent man works hard to claim his prize and it is precious to him. v. 28 righteousness is life – The general principles and promises of God lead to a better, more fulfilled life on earth as well as life eternal. There is no death in righteousness as God has defined righteousness. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Rom. 4:3, Gal. 3:5-9, James 2:18-26). Abraham had a faith in God that caused him to obey the Word of God. This is righteousness and it leads to life. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| "A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved." –Proverbs 12:3 We pray to meditate on the list that we have made today, God. Show us where we are soaking in wickedness and turn us toward righteousness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12:3 A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
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