What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
PROVERBS • CHAPTER 11
Proverbs 11
Practical wisdom, speech, work, money, sexuality, family, justice, self-control, leadership, and fear of Yahweh.
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Proverbs 11
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1
A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
but accurate weights are his delight.
but accurate weights are his delight.
2
When pride comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes wisdom.
but with humility comes wisdom.
3
The integrity of the upright shall guide them,
but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
but righteousness delivers from death.
5
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way,
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,
but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes,
and expectation of power comes to nothing.
and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked takes his place.
and the wicked takes his place.
9
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.
When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
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.
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,
but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it,
but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16
A gracious woman obtains honor,
but violent men obtain riches.
but violent men obtain riches.
17
The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18
Wicked people earn deceitful wages,
but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19
He who is truly righteous gets life.
He who pursues evil gets death.
He who pursues evil gets death.
20
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh,
but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23
The desire of the righteous is only good.
The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more.
There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25
The liberal soul shall be made fat.
He who waters shall be watered also himself.
He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26
People curse someone who withholds grain,
but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28
He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.
He who is wise wins souls.
He who is wise wins souls.
31
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
WISDOM
Where this chapter fits
Proverbs belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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