Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 11

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 11 The state and rewards of the righteous and the wicked are contrasted—When a wicked man dies, his expectations perish—He that winneth souls is wise.
1 ^aA FALSE ^bbalance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When ^apride cometh, then cometh ^bshame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The ^aintegrity of the upright shall guide them^a: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.	3^a integrity of the upright shall guide them Integrity is holding to a prescribed set of values and living one's life by them. That which 'guides' is the particular 'value system' which one lives his life by.	1^a OR Deceptive scales (i.e. made to deceive) ^b Amos 8:5 2^a 2 Ne 26:20-22; D&C 38:39 ^b TG Shame 3^a TG Integrity
4 ^aRiches profit not in the day of ^bwrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The ^arighteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall ^bfall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.		4^a TG Treasure ^b D&C 1:9 (8-10) 5^a Prov. 13:6 ^b Esth. 7:9
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 An ^ahypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the ^bjust be delivered.		9^a D&C 50:7-8 ^b D&C 51:19
10 When it goeth well with the ^arighteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12 He that is void of wisdom ^adespiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace^a.	12^a a man of understanding holdeth his peace In that regarding others, an understanding heart will not rush to finding fault and bearing tales concerning another. He will hold his peace and not speak evil or spread gossip and tales concerning other people.	10^a Prov. 28:12 12^a D&C 59:6
13 A ^atalebearer revealeth secrets^a: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 14 Where no ^acounsel is, the people fall: but in the ^bmultitude of ^ccounsellors there is safety. 15 He that is ^asurety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.	13^a A talebearer revealeth secrets The ability to hold information in confidence is high on the value system of integrity. Rushing about to tale tales about others, particularly those which degrade and expose them to the persectution and dinegrating of others is a sin. It is the process of making oneself appear to be better than another by the tearing down of the other person. It is fostered in being preoccupied by looking for that which is 'wrong' with another person rather than looking for and building upon the good that is in them. A talebearer rushes about to spread such dirt of a person's weakness or precieved weaknesses rather than to extoll their virtues. It is a matter which judges unknowing the particulars of a situation and thwarts the process of repentance and forgiveness by forever holding up one's weaknesses past before them to accuse them of them forever. A talebearer does not practice the principle of readily forgiving one's brother, rather they are set upon forever holding up their faults before the world and not allowing that person to progress beyond what is in one's past.	13^a TG Gossip 14^a TG Counsel ^b Prov. 24:6 ^c TG Counseling 15^a Prov. 6:1; Prov. 22:26
16 A gracious ^awoman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is ^acruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked worketh a ^adeceitful work: but to him that soweth ^brighteousness shall be a sure ^creward.		16^a TG Woman 17^a TG Cruelty 18^a TG Deceit ^b TG Righteousness ^c TG Reward; TG Wages
19 As righteousness tendeth to ^alife: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20 They that are ^aof a ^bfroward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.		19^a Prov. 19:23; 2 Ne. 9:39 20^a Prov. 21:8 ^b Ps. 101:4
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 24 There is that scattereth, and yet ^aincreaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.		24^a Prov. 13:7
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that ^awatereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. 27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.		25^a Matt. 7:2
28 He that ^atrusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 29 He that troubleth his own ^ahouse shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a ^atree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.		28^a TG Trustworthiness 29^a TG Marriage, Fatherhood 30^a 1 Ne. 11:25
31 Behold, the righteous shall be ^arecompensed in the earth: much more [than] the wicked and the sinner.		31^a D&C 1:10; D&C 56:19