Pro 11:3 | KingComments | STEP | “Pride”, or arrogance, is literally “boiling over”, or overstepping boundaries and the hallmark of rebellion ( ). Proud people puff themselves up to the level of a deity. In the wake of their puffiness follows “dishonor”, a word meaning “to be made light”. The proud, puffed-up person is like a balloon that deflates until only a rag remains. An apt illustration of this is Herod Agrippa who allowed himself to be hailed as God and immediately afterward was eaten by worms and died ( ). He was a bloated god who shriveled up into a rag. The Pharisees are also puffed up. They think big of themselves in their relationship with God and look down contemptuously on others ( ; ). The Lord pronounces the “woe to you” on them ( ). Another example of hubris is Babylon the great, which is the roman-catholic church, which will also be judged for it ( ). All that remains of it is “the smoke of its fire” ( ). Opposite of pride is humility or humbleness. “With the humble is wisdom”, as evidenced by the place they occupy before God and men. They moderate nothing; they are not puffed up. With them is the fear of God and that is their wisdom. They will be exalted in God’s time ( ; ). Those who are humble are also upright ( ). The consequence or result of inner “integrity” is that it “will guide” the upright in the way they go and in the contacts they have. There is freedom and life in their going, both for themselves and for those they meet. Here we see the blessed influence that integrity has on the upright. Integrity is a mind of heart, expressed in acting honestly and faithfully. Opposed to the upright are “the treacherous”. With them there is no integrity, but its opposite, “crookedness”. This crookedness is evident in the crooked ways they go and the crooked doctrine they preach. They themselves suffer the effect of this. By their crookedness they destroy themselves. Here we see the devastating effect that crookedness has on the treacherous themselves. He who seeks to damage others damages himself.

‏ Proverbs 11:3

Humility and Uprightness

“Pride”, or arrogance, is literally “boiling over”, or overstepping boundaries and the hallmark of rebellion (Pro 11:2). Proud people puff themselves up to the level of a deity. In the wake of their puffiness follows “dishonor”, a word meaning “to be made light”. The proud, puffed-up person is like a balloon that deflates until only a rag remains.

An apt illustration of this is Herod Agrippa who allowed himself to be hailed as God and immediately afterward was eaten by worms and died (Acts 12:21-23). He was a bloated god who shriveled up into a rag. The Pharisees are also puffed up. They think big of themselves in their relationship with God and look down contemptuously on others (Lk 18:9-12; Mt 6:5). The Lord pronounces the “woe to you” on them (Mt 23:13-32). Another example of hubris is Babylon the great, which is the roman-catholic church, which will also be judged for it (Rev 18:7-8). All that remains of it is “the smoke of its fire” (Rev 18:18).

Opposite of pride is humility or humbleness. “With the humble is wisdom”, as evidenced by the place they occupy before God and men. They moderate nothing; they are not puffed up. With them is the fear of God and that is their wisdom. They will be exalted in God’s time (Lk 14:11; 1Pet 5:6).

Those who are humble are also upright (Pro 11:3). The consequence or result of inner “integrity” is that it “will guide” the upright in the way they go and in the contacts they have. There is freedom and life in their going, both for themselves and for those they meet. Here we see the blessed influence that integrity has on the upright. Integrity is a mind of heart, expressed in acting honestly and faithfully.

Opposed to the upright are “the treacherous”. With them there is no integrity, but its opposite, “crookedness”. This crookedness is evident in the crooked ways they go and the crooked doctrine they preach. They themselves suffer the effect of this. By their crookedness they destroy themselves. Here we see the devastating effect that crookedness has on the treacherous themselves. He who seeks to damage others damages himself.