“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight.
When pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.
The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them.”

“Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath,
But righteousness rescues from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.”

“When a wicked person dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of strong people perishes.
The righteous is rescued from trouble,
But the wicked takes his place.”

“With his mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be rescued.
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.”

“One who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a person of understanding keeps silent.
One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.”

“Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in an abundance of counselors there is victory.
One who is a guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it,
But one who hates being a guarantor is secure.”

“A gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain wealth.
A merciful person does himself good,
But the cruel person brings trouble on himself.
The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But one who sows righteousness gets a true reward.”

“Genuine righteousness leads to life,
But one who pursues evil attains his own death.
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their walk are His delight.”

“Assuredly, the evil person will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be rescued.
A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
Is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.”

“The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in poverty.”

“A generous person will be prosperous,
And one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.
One who withholds grain, the people will curse him,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.”

“One who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
One who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.”

“One who troubles his own house will inherit wind,
And the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And one who is wise gains souls.
If the righteous will be repaid on the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!”

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Context and Meaning

Proverbs 11 unfolds as a moral mirror, showing how integrity and righteousness bring life and blessing — not only to individuals, but to communities and generations.
It’s a chapter of contrast: humility vs. pride, honesty vs. deceit, generosity vs. greed, mercy vs. cruelty.

Here, Solomon teaches that true righteousness is not about outward religion but inward character — the kind that reflects God’s heart.

Key Themes:

1. Integrity and Honesty: God delights in fairness and truth (v. 1).
2. Humility vs. Pride: Wisdom grows in humility; pride leads to disgrace (v. 2).
3. Righteousness vs. Riches: Only righteousness delivers from death (v. 4).
4. The Power of the Tongue: Words can destroy or build up (v. 9–13).
5. The Value of Counsel: Wisdom thrives in community (v. 14).
6. Mercy and Generosity: The generous prosper; the greedy decay (v. 24–25).
7. Legacy of the Righteous: Their lives bless others and their fruit remains (v. 30).

Reflection and Impact

Proverbs 11 reminds us that righteousness is practical — it affects how we measure, speak, spend, and lead.

• Honesty honors God – “A false balance is an abomination” (v. 1) connects with Micah 6:8: walk humbly and act justly.
• Humility invites wisdom – “With the humble is wisdom” (v. 2) echoes James 4:6: God gives grace to the humble.
• Righteousness brings rescue – “Righteousness delivers from death” (v. 4) mirrors Psalm 37:39: the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord.
• Words shape worlds – “With his mouth the godless destroys” (v. 9) recalls Ephesians 4:29: speak only what builds up.
• Generosity multiplies blessing – “One who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty” (v. 25) reflects Luke 6:38: give, and it will be given to you.
• The righteous bear eternal fruit – “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” (v. 30) aligns with John 15:5: he who abides in Me bears much fruit.

Application

• Be Honest in All Things: Let integrity guide every transaction and relationship.
• Stay Humble: Wisdom cannot live in a proud heart.
• Speak Life: Use your words to restore, not to ruin.
• Give Freely: Generosity is an act of trust in God’s provision.
• Seek Counsel: God often reveals His wisdom through others.
• Live for Eternal Fruit: Sow righteousness that blesses generations.

Closing Thought

Righteousness is not a path to prosperity—it is prosperity.
It builds life, blesses cities, and multiplies joy.
Proverbs 11 teaches us that the way of wisdom is the way of truth, generosity, and lasting fruit.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And one who is wise gains souls.”