Westminster Annotations, Proverbs · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Vers. 1. A False balance] Heb. balances of deceit. Under this word, he condemneth all false weights, measures, and deceit.
abomination to the Lord] Though some men make light of it, yet God hates it.
A false balance is abomination to the Lord] Levit. 19. 36. Deut. 25. 15. Chap. 16. 11. and 20. 10, 23.
a just weight] Heb. a perfect stone.
V. 2. When pride cometh, then cometh shame] Chap. 15. 33. and 16. 18. and 18. 12. When man forgetteth himself, and exalteth himself above his vocation, then God, by some sudden accident, bringeth him to confusion.
with the lowly is wisedom] And, by consequence, honour, from them that rightly weigh things.
V. 3. The integritie of the upright shall guide them] Chap. 13. 6.
V. 4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath] Chap. 10. 2. Ezek. 7. 19. Zeph. 1. 18. Though well gotten, and not by fraud, as vers. 1.
V. 5. direct] Heb. rectifie.
V. 6. The righteousnesse of the upright shall deliver them] It shall not onelyonly leade him in safe paths, but also free him out of dangers.
transgressours shall be taken in their own naughtinesse] Chap. 5. 22.
in their own naughtinesse] His plots to ruine others, shall ruine himself, chap. 5. 22.
V. 7. hope] Or, expectation of strengths: that is, the most strong hope.
V. 8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble] Chap. 21. 18.
the wicked cometh in his stead] It shews the great love of God to his, who brings them out of the snare, and their enemies into it; as in Mordecai's case, Esth. 7. 9.
V. 9. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour] Jo… 8. 13 A man that dissembles with his neighbour by fair words, leads him to destruction, unlesse he be a good man, that by knowledge findes out his drifts, and prevents them: or, a man that dissembles with God, draws others to do so: but good men that know Gods will, will not be drawn by him.
hypocrite] Or, profane man, psal. 35. 16.
V. 10. the citie rejoyceth] Because of the good they get by them; whereas, by wicked men exalted they get hurt, v. 11.
V. 11. By the blessing of the upright the citie is exalted] By the prayers and good counsells of righteous men, a citie is exalted, as it is pulled down by the cursings and ill counsells of wicked men.
V. 12. void of wisedom] Heb. destitute of heart.
despiseth his neighbour] Speaketh ill of him, or to him; but he that is thorowly wise (Heb. a man of understandings) will not therefore speak ill of others, nor to him that reproacheth him.
understanding] Heb. understandings.
V. 13. A tale-bearer] Heb. he that walketh, being a talebearer, Levit. 19. 16.
A tale-bearer revealeth secrets] Things committed to him concerning the speaker, or some other, upon condition of secrecie.
V. 14. Where no counsel is, the people fall] 1 King. 12. 1, &c. chap. 15. 22. Heb. counsells: Such as ship-masters use to guide the ship well: for so the word signifies.
V. 15. He that is suretie for a stranger] Whose condition he knows not: or, for one whom he is no way obliged to, and therefore is not tied to be bound for him. So a strange woman is she that is not a mans own wife, chap. 2. 16. and 6. 1.
shall smart for it] Heb. shall be sore broken. Heb. be broken by breaking: That is, broken to shivers, as an earthen pot with a fall: and we call it breaking, when men are undone.
he that hateth suretiship, is sure] Loveth it not, and will not do it without just cause. The hated wife was the lesse beloved, Deut. 21. 15.
suretiship] Heb. those that strike hands.
V. 16. A gracious woman retaineth honour] That hath found favour with God: or, a woman endued with grace.
V. 17. The mercifull man doth good to his own soul] He that is of a bountifull disposition affords himself things needfull, which a cruell man doth not: or, he that is good to others, shall receive a reward for it.
V. 18. The wicked worketh a deceitfull work] That promiseth a reward, but brings none, Rom. 6. 21. Eph. 5. 11.
to him that soweth] Psal. 112. 9, 10. It is like good seed: it will certainly bring profit, Gal. 6. 8. 2 Cor. 9. 6.
righteousnesse] Sometimes it is taken for alms.
a sure reward] Heb. a reward of truth.
V. 19. As] So.
As righteousnesse tendeth to life] He unfoldeth what he meant in the last verse, expounding the last part first.
so] Heb. and.
V. 21. Though hand joyn in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished] chap. 16. 5.
the wicked shall not be unpunished] A wicked man cannot free himself from mischief; but a good man may free his posterity also.
V. 22. so is a fair woman which is without discretion] Heb. that hath departed from taste: That is, that wants reason to guide her self. Or, that hath lost her savour: That is, her credit, by light courses.
the expectation] Or, to the expectation.
V. 23. The desire] Or, To the desire.
The desire of the righteous is onelyonly good] The good shall have that happinesse they desire: but the wicked can expect for nothing but Gods anger.
V. 24. scattereth] Psal. 112. 9, 10.
and yet increaseth] He that giveth liberally, gets by giving: and the covetous lose by not giving.
V. 25. The liberall soul shall be made fat] 2 Cor. 9. 8, 9, 10. That is, rich.
The liberall soul] Heb. The soul of blessing.
he that watereth, shall be watered also himself] He shall be made richer, that he may still do good.
V. 26. He that withholdeth corn] He that keeps corn till it be dear, or faulty.
the people shall curse him] Heb. strike him thorow. For curses are like darts.
but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it] They will pray God to blesse him.
V. 27. He that diligently seeketh good, procureth favour] He that riseth betimes to seek good to himself, or others.
but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him] Psal. 7. 15, 16. and 9. 15, 16. and 10. 2. and 57. 6.
V. 28. He that trusteth in his riches, shall fall] Like a dry leaf, or as one that trusts to an unsure stay, Isai. 36. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 17. but the righteous that trust in God, shall flourish like a green leaf or branch.
the righteous shall flourish as a branch] Psal. 1. 3. and 92. 12, &c. Jere. 17. 8.
branch] Or, a leaf: That is, a green leaf.
V. 29. He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winde] Chap. 15. 27. By imposing too much labour, sparing too much, or raising quarrells; he shall not mend his estate, but impair it.
the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart] He that hath not wit to keep what his friends left him, must in his old dayes serve them, that are wiser then himself.
V. 30. and he that winneth] That they learn of some, they teach others.
he that winneth souls, is wise] Subdueth them to the knowledge and will of God, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.
winneth] Heb. taketh.
V. 31. Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth] 1 Pet. 4. 18. Punished for his sins.