Proverbs 11
11:1 a Here, honest practices are applied to the business world (see also 16:11 b; 20:10 c, 23 d; Lev 19:35-37 e; Deut 25:13-15 f; Ezek 45:10 g; Hos 12:7-8 h; Mic 6:11 i).• Scales were often made of two metal bowls suspended from a crossbar. The unit of currency, the shekel, comes from the verb meaning “to weigh” (see Amos 8:5-6 j).
11:2 k Pride is dishonest self-promotion, whereas humility is an honest assessment of one’s strengths and weaknesses.
11:4 l Right living, which flows from wisdom, is more important than riches. Nothing is wrong with riches (10:15 m, 22 n; 14:24 o) that are gained properly (cp. 13:11 p; 21:6 q; 22:16 r).
11:10 s Our actions, whether godly or wicked, affect the whole city (cp. Eccl 8:9-13 t).
11:13 u This perspective on a gossip is repeated in 20:19 v.
11:14 w The future of an entire nation depends on wisdom.
11:15 x This message is repeated in 6:1-5 y; 17:18 z; 20:16 aa; 22:26 ab; 27:13 ac.
11:16 ad Respect is the great and lasting reward of being gracious, while wealth is the lesser and temporary prize of being ruthless (see also 10:2 ae; 11:18 af).
11:21 ag Godly behavior has positive consequences for the next generation.
11:22 ah Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong, the beautiful from the ugly, and good taste from bad taste.
11:23 ai The wicked might prosper and the godly might suffer in the short term, but the future will right this imbalance.
Summary for Prov 11:24-26: 11:24-26 aj Generous people who give freely to others will prosper, but those who hoard their money will lose it (see 28:27 ak; 2 Cor 9:6-9 al).
11:28 am Money can be a blessing from God, but it is uncertain. The godly trust in God and flourish (see Ps 1 an).
11:31 ao The implied answer is that wicked sinners will be punished on earth.
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