Proverbs 11:1-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

As religion towards God is a branch of universal righteousness (he is not an honest man that is not devout), so righteousness towards men is a branch of true religion, for he is not a godly man that is not honest, nor can he expect that his devotion should be accepted; for, 1. Nothing is more offensive to God than deceit in commerce. A false balance is here put for all manner of unjust and fraudulent practices in dealing with any person, which are all an abomination to the Lord, and render... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 11:2

Observe, 1. How he that exalts himself is here abased, and contempt put upon him. When pride comes then comes shame. Pride is a sin which men have reason to be themselves ashamed of; it is a shame to a man who springs out of the earth, who lives upon alms, depends upon God, and has forfeited all he has, to be proud. It is a sin which others cry out shame on and look upon with disdain; he that is haughty makes himself contemptible; it is a sin for which God often brings men down, as he did... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 11:3

It is not only promised that God will guide the upright, and threatened that he will destroy the transgressors, but, that we may be the more fully assured of both, it is here represented as if the nature of the thing were such on both sides that it would do it itself. 1. The integrity of an honest man will itself be his guide in the way of duty and the way of safety. His principles are fixed, his rule is certain, and therefore his way is plain; his sincerity keeps him steady, and he needs not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is abomination to the Lord ,.... Under which are included all false weights and measures, and all fraudulent practices in commerce and dealing; which are forbidden by the Lord, and are abominable to him, as being injurious to the estates and properties of men: and more especially must be abominable in professors of religion, as being contrary to the grace of God; for though there may be common honesty where there is not the grace of God, yet there cannot be the true grace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 11:2

When pride cometh, then cometh shame ,.... The one follows the other, or rather keep pace together; as soon as one comes, the other comes; as in the case of the angels that sinned, Adam and Eve, Haman, Nebuchadnezzar, and others; and will be the case of the Romish antichrist, who, while vaunting and priding himself in his glory and grandeur, will fall into shame, disgrace, and destruction, Revelation 18:7 ; but with the lowly is wisdom ; or wisdom shall come, as Jarchi: the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 11:3

The integrity of the upright shall guide them ,.... The Spirit of God is the best guide of an upright man; he leads into all truth, and unto the land of uprightness, and continues to be a guide, even unto death; and it is right to walk after him, and not after the flesh: and besides him, the upright man has the word of God as a lamp to his feet, and a light to his paths, which he does well to take heed to; and next to that is the sincerity and uprightness of his heart, which will not suffer... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is abomination - This refers to the balance itself deceitfully constructed, so that it is sooner turned at one end than at the other. This is occasioned by one end of the beam being longer than the other. But a just weight - שלמה אבן eben shelemah , the perfect stone probably because weights were first made of stone; see the law, Deuteronomy 25:13-16 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 11:2

When pride cometh - The proud man thinks much more of himself than any other can do; and, expecting to be treated according to his own supposed worth, which treatment he seldom meets with, he is repeatedly mortified, ashamed, confounded, and rendered indignant. With the lowly - צנועים tsenuim , ταπεινων , the humble, the modest, as opposed to the proud, referred to in the first clause. The humble man looks for nothing but justice; has the meanest opinion of himself; expects nothing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

A false balance; literally, balances of deceit ( Proverbs 20:23 ). The repetition of the injunctions of Deuteronomy 25:13 , Deuteronomy 25:14 and Le 19:35, 36 points to fraud consequent on increased commercial dealings, and the necessity of moral and religious considerations to control practices which the civil authority could not adequately supervise. The standard weights and measures were deposited in the sanctuary ( Exodus 30:13 ; Le 27:25; 1 Chronicles 23:29 ), but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

Just weights The point of this proverb is different from that of our low-toned though often useful saying, "Honesty is the best policy." Every day we are discovering more and more how profoundly true that saying is, if not in the narrow view some take of it, yet in its broad issues and in the long run. But no man will be truly honest who puts policy before honesty, and bases his morality on selfish expediency. Therefore, if we are ever to reap the personal profit promised in the English... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 11:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 11:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 11:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 11:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 11:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 11:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 11:1

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