Commentaires bibliques

Proverbs 11:1. A false balance — The use of all false weights and measures in commerce; is abomination to the Lord — Highly abominable to him, both because this wickedness is practised under a colour of justice, and because it is destructive of human society, and especially of the poor, whose patron the Lord declares himself to be: see on Leviticus 19:35. “This rule may hold, not in commerce only, but also in our judgments, and in our whole conduct toward our neighbour. In every thing respecting him, employ the balance of equity, void of all selfish views, passions, and prejudices. Let justice and truth ever hold the scale; and always do to him what you would have done to yourself.”

Proverbs 11:2-3. When pride cometh, then cometh shame — Pride, as it is the effect of folly, so it bringeth a man to contempt and destruction, such persons being under the displeasure of God, and disliked by all men. But with the lowly is wisdom — Whereby they are kept from those foolish and wicked actions which expose men to shame. The integrity of the upright, &c. — Their sincere obedience to God’s laws; shall guide them — Shall keep them from crooked and dangerous courses, and lead them in a right and safe way. But the perverseness of transgressors — Those wicked devices by which they design and expect to secure themselves; shall destroy them — Shall be the very causes of their destruction.

Proverbs 11:4-6. Riches profit not in the day of wrath — In the time of God’s judgments, when he is executing vengeance upon sinners; but righteousness delivereth, &c. — See note on Proverbs 10:2. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct, &c. — Shall bring all his designs and endeavours to a happy issue, and deliver him from many snares and dangers, Proverbs 11:6.

Proverbs 11:7-8. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish — All his hope and felicity, which he placed wholly in earthly things, are lost and gone with him; and the hope of unjust men, &c. — This clause, according to this translation, is a mere repetition of the former: but the word אונים, here rendered unjust men, is generally translated strengths, or powers, as indeed it properly means. Divers, therefore, interpret the clause, The hope of their strengths, that is, which they place in their riches, children, friends, and other carnal props and defences, perisheth. So this is added by way of aggravation. The righteous are delivered out of trouble — When, perhaps, he hardly expected it, or even was ready to despair of it; and the wicked cometh in his stead — Is, by God’s providence, brought into the same miseries, which the wicked either designed against, or had formerly inflicted on the righteous, but which were now lately removed from them. Thus Mordecai was saved from the gallows, Daniel from the lions’ den, and Peter from the prison, and their persecutors came in their stead. Israel was delivered out of the Red sea, and the Egyptians drowned in it.

Proverbs 11:9. A hypocrite with his mouth — By his corrupt communication; destroyeth his neighbour — Draws him into error or sin; but through knowledge — Namely, of God and of his word, which, making men wise, discovers and so prevents the frauds of deceivers; shall the just be delivered — From the infection of the evil and crafty counsel of hypocrites.

Proverbs 11:10. When it goeth well with the righteous — When righteous men are encouraged and advanced to places of trust and power; the city rejoiceth — The citizens, or subjects, of that government, rejoice, because they confidently expect justice and tranquillity, and many other benefits, by their administration of public affairs. When the wicked perish, there is shouting — A common rejoicing, partly for the just vengeance of God upon them, who had been the instruments of so much mischief; and partly for the deliverance of the people from such public grievances and burdens as had been imposed upon them.

Proverbs 11:11. By the blessing of the upright — Namely, by their sincere prayers, and wise, wholesome counsels, wherewith they bless their country; the city is exalted — In dignity, power, and all kinds of prosperity; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked — By their curses, oaths, blasphemies, and wicked, pernicious counsels, whereby they both provoke God, and mislead men to their own ruin.

Proverbs 11:12-13. He that is void of wisdom — Of knowledge, prudence, and grace; despiseth his neighbour — Which he shows by contemptuous or reproachful expressions; but a man of understanding holdeth his peace — Forbears all such expressions, and silently and patiently bears all these reproaches. It is a great weakness to speak contemptuously of any man, or to endeavour to render him ridiculous, though he may have erred, because he possibly may return to a right way of thinking and acting for the future; and it is cruel to insult over errors committed through human infirmity; therefore a prudent person says nothing to the reproach of any one. A tale- bearer — Or, He that goeth about, (see the margin,) from one place or person to another, telling tales, making it his business to scatter reports; revealeth secrets — Either his neighbour’s secret faults, or such things as were committed to his trust, with a charge of secrecy; but he that is of a faithful spirit — That hath a sincere, constant, and faithful mind, and therefore both can and will govern his tongue; concealeth the matter — Will hide those things which have been committed to his trust, or which, if known, might be injurious to others.