Posted by Jeff Short on March 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
– Proverbs 11:13
Talebearing was forbidden in the law (Leviticus 19:16). The word refers to a gossip or slanderer. The word indicates one with malicious intent to deal in scandals (Proverbs 26:22). It isn’t merely carelessness that reveals secrets.
Secrets refer to private counsels and intimate knowledge that should not be openly revealed. Taking such a person into your confidence would be foolish because they will betray your confidence. The
faithful are trustworthy and do not betray a confidence.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 4, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
– Proverbs 11:12
To despise is to hold in contempt or as insignificant. We would say it is to look down on someone else. Considering the contrast, despising means gossiping, slandering, or even openly deriding one’s neighbor. It could include scorn and mockery, even when covered with a thin veneer (Proverbs 26:19). Conversely, the wise man will keep silence rather than speak such to his neighbor (Proverbs 10:19; 15:28; 17:27).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 3, 2017 · Leave a Comment
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
– Proverbs 11:11
The
blessing of the upright is contrasted with the
mouth of the wicked, and so the effects of their speech are contrasted as exaltation or overthrow. The upright have wisdom and speak accordingly, which exalts or raises their society. The wicked have folly and spew it out to the overthrow, or bringing down, of themselves and everyone they ensnare (Proverbs 14:34; 29:8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
– Proverbs 11:9
The word for
hypocrite means to be soiled or defiled. It is a word for a godless person we might describe as a reprobate, blasphemer, etc. To destroy means to decay and to corrupt, or bring to ruin. The proverb describes those who use their speech to subvert others, like the heretics Paul warned about (Romans 16:17-18). The
just will be
delivered from such deception through
knowledge, or discernment. Such knowledge equips us to sort the things we hear and to tell whether they are truth and wisdom or not (Colossians 2:8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
– Proverbs 11:8
Interpretations of this proverb are varied. It is antithetical, though with a different twist than usual. The
trouble mentioned refers to straits or distress. The
righteous are delivered from trouble and the
wicked come into trouble. The twist in this proverb is that the wicked come into the trouble the righteous were delivered out of (Proverbs 28:10). It could refer to a plot of the wicked against the righteous that ultimately catches the wicked, like with Haman and Mordecai.
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 27, 2017 · Leave a Comment
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of the unjust men perisheth.
– Proverbs 11:7
The
expectation of the
wicked man is the outcome he hoped for. Likewise the
unjust men hope their unjust ways will yield long life and happiness. In the general tenor of Proverbs, wickedness tends to the cutting off of life. This proverb is not antithetical but other proverbs provide the contrast that the righteous have hope in their death (Proverbs 14:32).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
– Proverbs 11:6
This proverb is close to the previous one. The
upright are the straight, or those who walk honestly. They have and walk by wisdom.
Transgressors are treacherous, or deceitful dealers. Their way is always convoluted and thorny because they have to keep up with their treachery. Ultimately, they fall by their
naughtiness. The word means desire, but it is a ruinous, strong desire. It could aptly be described as lust. Transgressors serve their lusts and it is their own undoing (Psalm 7:16; Ecclesiastes 10:8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 25, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
– Proverbs 11:5
The word for
perfect means unblemished, or whole. It is most used in reference to sacrifices. Here it is used for one possessing
righteousness, which is justice, truthfulness, etc. For him, the way is made straight or plain. He is guided and not hindered by supposed ethical dilemmas (Psalm 119:32). It is not so with the
wicked. Their way is crooked and not straight (Proverbs 2:15). They have no safe guide but rather are guided by their
wickedness and foolish imaginations. The end result for the wicked is being taken by their own devices (Proverbs 1:31-32; 5:22).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
– Proverbs 11:4
The
day of wrath refers to divine judgment or reckoning. It could be a reckoning in this life or the final reckoning in the life to come. Either way, the gain that so dominates the thoughts of many will not provide any release before the righteous judge. He cannot be bribed and silver and gold are not sufficient to pay for sin. The way of wisdom is the way of
righteousness, or justice. There is safety in that way and deliverance from the fear of death (Proverbs 12:28; Hebrews 2:14-15).
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Proverbs 11:13
Posted by Jeff Short on March 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Talebearing was forbidden in the law (Leviticus 19:16). The word refers to a gossip or slanderer. The word indicates one with malicious intent to deal in scandals (Proverbs 26:22). It isn’t merely carelessness that reveals secrets. Secrets refer to private counsels and intimate knowledge that should not be openly revealed. Taking such a person into your confidence would be foolish because they will betray your confidence. The faithful are trustworthy and do not betray a confidence.– Proverbs 11:13
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