Proverbs 11King James Version
A false balance is abomination to the Lord. When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom. The liberal soul shall be made fat. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
Honest commerce, generous giving, and community life take center stage. 'A false balance is abomination to the LORD' opens the chapter. Righteousness delivers; wickedness destroys. The generous soul prospers; the stingy one loses. 'Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety' (verse 14). A beautiful woman without discretion is a gold ring in a pig's snout.
Righteousness is socially productive. Generosity multiplies; greed contracts. Community flourishes through honest dealing and open counsel.
11:2: 'When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.' Pride is not just a moral failing; it is a practical one.
Ancient market life, where dishonest scales were a documented problem addressed by law codes across the ancient Near East. The 'righteous nation' imagery in verses 10-11 reflects an awareness that individual virtue shapes community destiny.
Solomon's wisdom collected; no named characters. The generous person, the proud person, the beautiful-but-indiscreet woman as illustrative types.
Chapter 11 is unusually social in focus, treating commerce (honest weights), governance (multitude of counselors), gender relations (verse 22), and community flourishing as all falling under wisdom's domain. The vision of righteousness here is not private piety but civic health.
For when you are wondering whether generosity is really worth it or whether you should hold back. Verse 25 names what you've seen but maybe not articulated.
1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.