PROVERBS 11

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** God desires honesty in our business dealings, guided by the integrity of the upright

Proverbs 11:1,3-4 NIV

[1] The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. [3] The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

Proverbs 11:17-18,20 NIV

[17] Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves. [18] A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. [20] The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

Proverbs 11:24-26 NIV

[24] One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. [25] A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. [26] People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God's blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

Proverbs 11:28 NIV

[28] Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Proverbs 12:3 NIV

[3] No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

Proverbs 16:11 NIV

[11] Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Proverbs 17:1 NIV

[1] Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

 than a house full of feasting, with strife.

Proverbs 17:15-16 NIV

[15] Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent---the Lord detests them both. [16] Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?

Proverbs 17:18 NIV

[18] One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.

Proverbs 20:10 NIV

[10] Differing weights and differing measures---the Lord detests them both.

Proverbs 20:23 NIV

[23] The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

Proverbs 21:5-6 NIV

[5] The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. [6] A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.

Proverbs 22:26-27 NIV

[26] Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; [27] if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

** ‘Humble’ is a rare word in Scripture identifying a person who has a teachable spirit directed toward God, as in ‘walking humbly with your God’  <M130>

Proverbs 11:2 NIV

[2] When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Micah 6:8 NIV

[8] He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Proverbs 15:33 NIV

[33] Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 16:18-19 NIV

[18] Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. [19] Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Proverbs 18:12 NIV

[12] Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 22:4 NIV

[4] Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 30:1-4 NIV

[1] The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh---an inspired utterance.  This man's utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail. [2] Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. [3] I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. [4] Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!

** Remember that wealth and evil desires will not help man escape death in the Day of Wrath or Day of Judgement

Proverbs 11:4,6 NIV

[4] Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. [6] The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Proverbs 11:19,21 NIV

[19] Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death. [21] Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

Proverbs 27:23-24 NIV

[23] Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; [24] for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

Proverbs 28:20 NIV

[20] A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

** Solomon linked wisdom with the avoidance of slander and gossiping; the destruction of gossip is severe

Proverbs 10:18-19 NIV

[18] Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. [19] Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

Proverbs 10:21,23 NIV

[21] The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. [23] A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

Proverbs 10:31-32 NIV

[31] From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced. [32] The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Proverbs 11:9,11-13 NIV

[9] With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. [11] Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. [12] Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. [13] A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Proverbs 16:28-30 NIV

[28] A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. [29] A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. [30] Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

Proverbs 17:4 NIV

[4] A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Proverbs 18:8 NIV

[8] The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

[21] The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 20:19 NIV

[19] A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.

Proverbs 26:20-22 NIV

[20] Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. [21] As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. [22] The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

** Nations rise and fall based on their willingness to accept wise advice

Proverbs 11:14 NIV

[14] For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

Proverbs 14:34 NIV

[34] Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

Proverbs 24:5-6 NIV

[5] The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. [6] Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.

Proverbs 28:2 NIV

[2] When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

Isaiah 14:5-6 NIV

[5] The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, [6] which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression.

** The smallest piece of bread demonstrates how the prostitute reduces the life of a man to insignificance, including the loss of his wealth, freedom, family, purity, dignity, and even his soul  <M130>

Proverbs 6:26-29 NIV

[26] For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man's wife preys on your very life. [27] Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? [28] Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? [29] So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Proverbs 9:17-18 NIV

[17] “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious! ” [18] But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

Proverbs 11:22 NIV

[22] Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

** Hoarding wealth is a sin and goes against God’s command; rather, choose to prosper by giving generously to those in need without fanfare

Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 NIV

[13] I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, [14] or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.

Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV

[24] One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. [25] A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 22:16 NIV

[16] One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich---both come to poverty.

Proverbs 25:21 NIV

[21] If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Matthew 6:2-4 NIV

[2] “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. [3] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

** Consequences await those who give freely and those who don’t; prioritize God and others!

Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV

[24] One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. [25] A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

** He who mismanages his house will see all he has blown away, and he will have nothing left in the end; see Prov 10  <M130>

Proverbs 11:29 NIV

[29] Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

Proverbs 13:22 NIV

[22] A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Proverbs 14:1 NIV

[1] The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Proverbs 15:25,27 NIV

[25] The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow's boundary stones in place. [27] The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.

Proverbs 17:1 NIV

[1] Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

 than a house full of feasting, with strife.

Proverbs 19:26 NIV

[26] Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

[3] By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; [4] through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Proverbs 28:2 NIV

[2] When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

** Those who study Scripture are not told too much about the specific rewards believers receive at the Bema Seat  <P168>

• The only ones mentioned are the five crown rewards that symbolize triumph:  

1. The Imperishable Crown -- given to believers who gain mastery over the flesh and exercise self-control in all things (1Cor 9:25)

2. The Crown of Rejoicing -- given to those who love to evangelize and wisely wins souls (1Thes 2:19, Luke 15:10, 2Tim 4:5, Prov 11:30)

3. The Crown Of Life -- given to believers who persevere under great trial (Rev 2:10, James 1:12a)

4. The Crown Of Glory -- given to believers who faithfully shepherd God’s people (1Peter 5:2,3)

5. The Crown Of Righteousness -- given to those watching and longing for the Rapture and to all who have loved His appearing (2Tim 4:8)

• It’s important to note that any crowns we receive we don’t wear for eternity, for we’ll have the privilege of placing them at the feet of Jesus (Rev 4:10)

** God’s judgment will come after this life on this earth has ended  <M130>

• Blessings and rewards are reserved for the righteous

• His punishment is reserved for the unrepentant sinner

• There are foretastes of both punishment and reward during life on earth

• For instance, the righteous experience God’s personal care and goodness, while the wicked are void of it

Proverbs 11:31 NIV

[31] If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Proverbs 16:6 NIV

[6] Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.

Proverbs 21:1 NIV

[1] In the Lord's hand the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.

Proverbs 21:12 NIV

[12] The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.

Proverbs 21:16 NIV

[16] Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.