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Proverbs 11

31 verses

TL;DR

Proverbs 11 contrasts the fortunes of the righteous and the wicked, showing that God's favor follows integrity while folly leads to downfall.

Summary

The chapter opens with the divine view on honest measurement versus false balance, then moves through themes of pride, humility, and wisdom. It portrays the upright as guided by integrity and protected from sin, while the wicked are destroyed by their perverseness. Economic prosperity and moral conduct are linked: riches fail in God's wrath but righteousness saves from death. Social relationships reflect the same pattern—humility brings wisdom, deceit harms neighbors, and a wise counselor protects the people. The chapter concludes with a stark reward system: the righteous receive recompense, the wicked receive excess punishment.

Outline
  1. The moral law: right conduct versus sin
  2. Wisdom and folly in personal and social actions
  3. The societal impact of righteousness and wickedness
Themes
Righteousness versus WickednessWisdom and FoolishnessGod’s Justice and Reward
Keywords
righteousnesswickednesswisdompridehumilityintegrityjusticeblessingcautionreward
People
Places
Things
balance/weightpridehumilityintegrityricheswisdomtalebearercounselsuretygracious womanmerciful heartdeceitful workliberal soulcornfooltree of life
Key Verses
  • Proverbs 11:1: Illustrates the divine preference for honest measurement over deceitful commerce.
  • Proverbs 11:25: Shows the principle of generosity being rewarded, a core ethical teaching.
  • Proverbs 11:30: Highlights the life-giving nature of the righteous’s fruit.
  • Proverbs 11:31: Summarizes the chapter’s theme of retribution for the righteous versus the wicked.
Questions
  • How does Proverbs 11 define the relationship between honesty in business and divine favor?
  • In what ways does humility serve as a gateway to wisdom according to this chapter?
  • What societal effects does the book suggest result from widespread righteous versus wicked behavior?
  • How can the principle of the "liberal soul" be applied in contemporary community life?
  • Why does the chapter end with a statement about recompense, and what does it imply about divine justice?
Sentiment

mixed
Positive emphasis on righteousness and wisdom, negative warning against wickedness and pride.