= Proverbs 11 * Please see [[nsv:license|License]] for Copyright notice and Licensing information. * [ [[Proverbs_10|Previous]] | [[Proverbs_12|Next]] ] == Proverbs 11 1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. 16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. 27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. == Notes == Cross Reference == Concordance == Commentary == Rashi ==== Verse 2 When willful wickedness comes, etc. but with the modest is wisdom comes wisdom. ==== Verse 3 The innocence of the upright leads them Heb. תנחם, will guide them. but the distortion of the treacherous robs them Heb. ישדם, like ישדדם ==== Verse 6 but in the destruction In the destruction that they perpetrate, they are caught; the verse is transposed. [It means] “and the treacherous in the destruction will be caught.” ==== Verse 7 When a wicked man dies, hope is lost The hope of all who trust in him. and the expectation of his children is lost Heb. אונים. The expectation of his children, who are the products of his strength, is lost, for no good will come to them in his merit. But when the righteous die, their children have trust in their righteousness. ==== Verse 8 A righteous man is extricated from trouble when the wicked man dies, and this is connected to the preceding verse. ==== Verse 9 With his mouth, the flatterer The flatterer who entices his friend on an evil way, destroys him with his mouth. but with knowledge, righteous men are extricated But the righteous man is extricated from [the flatterer] with the knowledge of the Torah, which warned concerning him (Deut. 13: 9): “You shall not consent to him, etc.” ==== Verse 11 the ceiling is raised The ceiling of the Temple will be preserved at its height from falling. As long as the kings of Judah were upright, their prayer preserved the Temple. ==== Verse 12 but a man of understanding is silent when the one devoid of sense despises him, like Saul, as it is written (I Sam. 10:27): “And they despised him and brought him no gift; and he was as one who kept his peace.” ==== Verse 14 Without strategy When trouble befalls Israel, and they do not put their heart to understand, to fast and to repent, the people will fall. ==== Verse 15 will be broken by it The wicked man who gave his heart as surety to idolatry. but he who hates hand-claspers Those who clasp hands with the enticers to follow their counsel. But our Rabbis expounded this in regard to surety in monetary matters. ==== Verse 16 draws near to honor Heb. תתמך. The people of Israel constantly draw near to the honor of the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Torah. ( but strong men draw near to riches that it should not be lost to them.) ==== Verse 17 does himself good He does good to his kin. A kind man lit. a man of kindness, a man who is kind. but a cruel one troubles his own flesh But the cruel one troubles his kin. ==== Verse 18 A wicked man earns illusory wages The wage of a wicked man lies to him. He thinks that his prosperity will remain, but all is lost. but he who sows charity [receives] a true reward But he who sows charity, it is a wage of truth, for he is surely confident that he will receive his wage at the end. שכר cornial in Old French. [This appears to mean a weir in several dialects; i.e., a fence placed in the water to catch fish.] Manuscripts of Rashi yield: eclusse or esklusa, which is e’cluse [in modern French]; in German wasserschleuse, a lock or a sluice gate). Like a man who locks a canal in order to gather fish, and he is confident that he will find many fish there. A similar instance is (Isa. 19:10): “all who make dams (שכר) for still ponds.” ==== Verse 19 The truth of charity Heb. כן, the truth of charity is that its end is for life, as in (Num. 27:7): “The daughters of Zelofchad speak right (כן).” ==== Verse 21 From hand to hand From the hand of the Holy One, blessed be He, to his hand shall come to him his wage, and he will not be cleansed of the evil that he committed. ==== Verse 22 [As] a gold ring in a swine’s snout that bemires it in the dungheap, so is a Torah scholar who turns away from the good way. from whom sense has departed Who has departed from the Torah. ==== Verse 23 the hope of the wicked is wrath They are assured and hope for Gehinnom. ==== Verse 24 There is one who scatters his money for such things as charity, and he is given more. and one who withholds himself from [giving] what is proper, only for a loss it will be to him. ==== Verse 25 A generous person [lit. a soul of blessing,] who is generous with his money, and every expression of blessing is fuison in Old French, excess. and he who sates who sates the poor. shall himself become sated as well He shall be sated with good. ==== Verse 26 He who keeps back grain [who refrains] from teaching Torah. ==== Verse 27 He who desires good Who wishes to lead the people in the good way and reproves and chastises them. seeks acceptance He desires that the Holy One, blessed be He, accept them and and be reconciled with them. Appaisement in Old French, besanftigen in German. ==== Verse 29 He who inherits the wind will trouble his household A lazy man, who always inherits the wind and does not toil in Torah or in work, will ultimately trouble the members of his household, for they will have nothing to eat. ==== Verse 30 The fruit of a righteous man The reward of the fruit of the righteous man’s deeds is a tree of life for the world. and the wise man acquires souls Whoever is wise acquires souls for himself. he teaches them the good way, and they are his as though he had acquired them, as the matter is stated (Gen. 12:5): “And the souls that they acquired in Haran.” ==== Verse 31 Behold! The righteous man will be requited on earth Why should the wicked man feel confident when he prospers? Does he not see that the righteous man is requited the payment of the sins he has committed while he is still on earth, during his lifetime? surely a wicked man and a sinner Surely the wicked will ultimately be requited, either during his lifetime or after his death.