Daily Wisdom, Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11

"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 is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers 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 deliver them, but the treacherous will be caught by their own greed" (verses 1-6).

God hates wickedness and dishonesty. Those who are proud will be put to shame, and the treacherous will be destroyed. All that awaits them is death, but the righteous will be saved. Their humility is exalted by God, and they live with honesty and receive the delight of the Lord. Opposite lives lead to opposite results.

"The righteous is delivered from trouble, but the wicked takes his place. With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, 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. He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent" (verses 8-12).

The righteous are delivered from trouble because of their righteousness, and when they are delivered the city rejoices. People love to see good things happen to good people. And in the same way, they love justice to be done to the wicked. Wisdom leads to the salvation of the righteous, but the wicked are destroyed. Wickedness can do nothing but destroy. A wise man knows when to keep quiet, but a foolish man never shuts up.

"The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm. The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, and he who pursues evil will bring about 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 man will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered. As a ring of gold in a swine's snout so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. 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 want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered" (verses 17-25).

We see the results of the righteous is reward and blessing. Everything he does prospers, and he is satisfied. But the wicked is never satisfied. No matter what he acquires it is never enough.

"He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who seeks evil, evil will come to him. He who trusts in his riches will fall,but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf... The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!" (verses 27-28, 30-31)

Again we see that the biggest result of righteousness is life, and the result of wickedness is destruction. If the righteous is rewarded on earth, promise of Heaven, then how much more will the sinner and the wicked get what they have earned?

Again, this chapter falls into the category of stand alone phrases, and marks one of those standards to compare our lives to. Which one matches up with yours?

"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory

Peace be with you