Proverbs
Chapter 11
The Lord despises dishonest scales, but a fair weight delights him.
Pride is often accompanied by disgrace; humility is the home of wisdom.
Honesty lights the way for the righteous, but the corrupt are confused by their evil.
On the day of vengeance, wealth will be insignificant, but honest living will prevent death.
The virtuous man’s integrity paves his path, while the wicked man is brought down by his evil.
Living uprightly protects the virtuous, while evildoers fall into their own greed.
The hope of the wicked is buried with them, and their trust in riches is useless.
The upright will escape trouble; a wicked person will take their place.
The godless man destroys his neighbor with his words, but the virtuous use their wisdom to save themselves.
The city celebrates the good fortune of the virtuous and takes pleasure in the downfall of the wicked.
A city is built on the blessings of the righteous and is torn down by the words of the wicked.
Anyone who mocks his neighbor is a fool; a wise person remains silent.
Gossip exposes secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps them.
Lack of guidance causes a nation’s decline, whereas many counselors lead to success.
He who stands as guarantor for a stranger harms himself; he who avoids providing bail will be safe.
A gracious woman gains fame, and daring men obtain wealth.
The kind man does himself a favor, while a cruel man harms his own flesh.
The earnings of the wicked are an illusion, while the righteous man gains a certain reward.
Living righteously leads to life, but the path of evil leads to death.
The Lord detests the corrupt of heart but loves those whose lives are upright.
Be confident that the wicked will face punishment, but those who are righteous will be saved.
A pretty woman lacking discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
The upright only want good; the desires of the wicked are useless.
Those who are generous grow richer; others are stingy and make themselves poorer.
A kind-hearted person will thrive; those who give to others will themselves be supported.
He who hoards wheat is cursed by the people; blessed is he who sells his seeds.
The Lord rewards those who seek good, but those who pursue evil will be caught by it.
Those who trust in riches will stumble, while the upright will flourish like leaves.
Whoever poorly manages his household will inherit nothing but the wind; the fool will eventually become a servant to the wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but the wicked are uprooted before their time.
If here on earth the upright receive their due, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Commentaries
Second Collection – Proverbs of Solomon.
The core and oldest part of the book begins with the title “Proverbs of Solomon.” In reality, scholars place this section shortly after the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC). Babylon had already entered Jewish territory, and violence increased daily. During this crisis, a group of wise men compiled a series of sayings and proverbs, some moral and others legislative, aiming to encourage the community and teach that the righteous—those who believe in the Lord and truly love him—will not suffer violence or death. Throughout this section, wisdom calls for conversion and justice, as well as the experience of poverty.
Second Collection.
In line with Deuteronomistic and prophetic teachings, the wise men promote a just order that can only be built by wise, prudent, and honest people, in accordance with God’s will. Justice is a guarantee of life because justice is an essential aspect of God. Those who are just and honest bring blessings to their community. Therefore, it is about the real and tangible consequences that happen when community members commit to pursuing goodness, solidarity, peace, and justice; then, good results are sure to follow. This is the blessing the text refers to.
Second Collection.
The wise man has observed how a people without guidance are ruined and lost. That is why the leader of the people must be a wise person in the sense that he walks in righteousness and justice; a bad leader or evil ruler is like a foolish human being, a wicked person, or one who hates the Lord, that is, one who refuses to walk according to God’s will. his life is a continuous tragedy; thus, the people also walk toward their own destruction.
Second Collection.
Quality of life depends on each individual; those who nurture goodness reap its benefits. That’s why the wise emphasize the importance of acting rightly and making the most of all that is good. This training leads humans toward freedom, because “the fool will be the slave of the wise” (29).