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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Posted by Jeff Short on February 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
– Proverbs 11:3
The word for
integrity points to innocence.
Upright means straight. These are contrasted with the crooked ways of the treacherous—
perverseness of transgressors. The main point here, as in similar proverbs, is that integrity in wisdom will preserve and guide the upright, while the very crookedness of the deceivers will destroy them (Proverbs 13:6; 28:18).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
– Proverbs 11:2
The word for
pride indicates a high arrogance, or hubris. It speaks of one who must have his own way, and Proverbs points out the end of that way is
shame, or disgrace, and elsewhere destruction (Proverbs 16:18; 18:12). The word for
lowly means humility and it is the way of
wisdom. Humility with wisdom is better than great riches (Proverbs 16:19). Humility always precedes any true promotion (Proverbs 15:33).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
– Proverbs 11:1
The law forbade conducting deceptive transactions and cheating the scale (Leviticus 19:35-36; Deuteronomy 25:13-16). God rebuked Israel for this sin through the prophets (Amos 8:5; Micah 6:10). Wisdom likewise teaches the abomination of false balances (Proverbs 16:11; 20:10, 23). A
just weight is a complete measure, or we might think of it as accurate. God delights in this sort of honesty, fairness, and just dealings.
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh forwardness.
– Proverbs 10:32
The word for
acceptable means delightful and pleasant. The words of the righteous are fitting words (Proverbs 15:23; 25:11). There is beauty in them and these come from a well of wisdom (Matthew 13:52). The words of the wicked are presented in contrast. They are not few, well-chosen, nor beautiful (Proverbs 15:2, 28). They only speak
frowardness, which is twistedness or perversity.
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
– Proverbs 10:31
To bring forth is literally to germinate or bear fruit. It is also put figuratively for speech as the idea that words are the fruit produced. A
just man will bear the fruit of wisdom in his speech (Psalm 37:30). The
froward tongue is contrasted. The word indicates something twisted, crooked, or otherwise perverse. Wicked prattling will ultimately be stopped (Psalm 31:18). The cutting out promised in the proverb puts one in mind of a bad tree with bad fruit being cut down and burned up.
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Proverbs 11:7
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.
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).– Proverbs 11:7
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