The ways of righteousness are plain and safe and in them we may enjoy a holy security. The ways of wickedness are dangerous and those who indulge themselves in sin are fitting themselves for destruction. A parallel of the advantages of the righteous and wise, opposed to the miseries of the wicked and the foolish. True and false riches. 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. This refers to the balance itself deceitfully constructed, so that it is sooner turned at one end than at the other. This is occasioned by one end of the beam being longer than the other. the perfect stone probably because weights were first made of stone; see the law, Deuteronomy 25:13-35. 11:1; 20:10 Every kind of unfair action is shameful. Even in common things, false weights and unjust measures are accursed. And if fraud in the market or in business is punished, can it seem free from reproach if found in the midst of the performance of the St. Ambrose: Duties of virtue? St. Ambrose: Duties of the Clergy, 3:9 (65). 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death. Riches will stand men in no stead in the day of death. Among men they can do all things; but they cannot purchase the remission of sins, nor turn aside the wrath of God when that is poured out upon the opulent transgressor. 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. If we are wise, we will take steps to escape sin’s snare before we are entrapped by it. God provides us with just look to him (1 Cor. 10:13;James 1:5; 4:6-10). 11:7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perishes. When a godly man dies, all his fears vanish; but when a wicked man dies, his hopes vanish. HOPE is a great blessing to man in his present state of trial and suffering; because it leads him to expect a favorable termination of his ills. But hope was not made for the wicked; and yet they are the very persons that most abound in it! They hope to be saved, and get at last to the kingdom of God; though they have their face towards perdition, and refuse to turn. But their hope goes no farther than the grave. There the wicked man’s expectation is cut off, and his hope perishes. But to the saint, the penitent, and the cross-bearers in general, what a treasure is hope! What a balm through life! 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead. 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 11:10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despises his neighbor: but a man of understanding holds his peace. Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is to keep silent, especially when someone else might be injured by our comments (Prov. 11:12). 11:13 A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter. 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. History is littered with the wreckage of nations led by leaders who felt so self-confident that they ignored their advisers and made unilateral, autonomous decisions. This is mute testimony to the truth of Proverbs that multifaceted counsel is a matter of national security (Prov. 11:14). The same is true for individuals. One can either “go it alone” as if he were omniscient, or else solicit a variety of informed opinions in order to make the wisest possible choice. For more on the need for outside help, see “The wisdom of the Taking counsel” at Prov. 24:6. We shall often find it to our advantage to advise with others. 11:14 LXX SUCH is discretion, which is not only the “light of the body,” but also called the sun by the Apostle, as it said “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” (Eph. 4:26). It is also called the guidance of our life: as it said “Those who have no guidance, fall like leaves.” (Prov. 11:14 LXX). It is most truly named counsel, without which the authority of Scripture allows us to do nothing, so that we are not even permitted to take that spiritual “wine which maketh https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 11 2 glad the heart of man” (Ps. 103:15) without its regulating control: as it is said “Do everything with counsel, drink thy wine with counsel,” (Prov. 31:3 LXX). and again “like a city that has its walls destroyed and is not fenced in, so is a man who does anything without counsel.” (Prov. 25:28 LXX). And how injurious the absence of this is to a monk, the illustration and figure in the passage quoted shows, by comparing it to a city that is destroyed and without walls. Heroin lies wisdom, herein lies intelligence and understanding without which our inward house cannot be built, nor can spiritual riches be gathered together, as it is said: “A house is built with wisdom, and again it is set up with intelligence. With understanding the storehouses are filled with all precious riches and good things.” (Prov. 24:3,4 LXX). This I say is “solid food,” which can only be taken by those who are full grown and strong, as it is said: “But solid food is for full grown men, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14), St. John Cassian: Conference 2:4. 11:15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hates suretiship is sure. The welfare of our families, our own peace, and our ability to pay just debts, must not be brought into danger. But here especially let us consider the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in becoming Surety even for enemies. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it — He shall find evil upon evil in it. See on chap. 6:1. 11:16 A gracious woman retains honor: and strong men retain riches. Instead of this clause, the Septuagint have, gunh eucaristov egeirei andri doxan, “A gracious woman raiseth up honor to the man;”“But she that hateth righteous things is a throne of dishonor.” A good wife is an honor to her husband; and a bad wife is her husband’s reproach: if this be so, how careful should a man be whom he marries! 11:17 The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh. 11:18 The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward. 11:19 As righteousness tends to life: so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death. 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. 11:22 If virginity is believed to be a vastly precious thing and to have a divine look (as indeed is the case, as well as men believe of it), yet, if the whole life does not harmonize with this perfect note, and it be marred by the succeeding s discord of the soul, this thing becomes but “the jewel of gold in the swine’s snout,” or “the pearl that is trodden under the swine’s feet.” St. Gregory of Nyssa: On Virginity, 17. 11:22 For, in a word, if one thinks himself made beautiful by gold, he is inferior to gold; and he that is inferior to gold is not Lord of it. But to confess one’s self less ornamental than the Lydian ore, how monstrous! As, then, the gold is polluted by the dirtiness of the sow, which stirs up the mire with her snout, so those women, that are luxurious to excess in their wantonness, elated by wealth, dishonor by the stains of amatory indulgences what is the true beauty. St. Clement of Alexandria: Instructor 3:11. 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 11:24 There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty. 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself. 11:25 LXX “Every soul that is blessed is simple,” not cleaving to things earthly nor with glued wings groveling, but beaming with the brightness of virtues, on the twin wings of twin love doth spring into the free air; and seeth how from her is withdrawn that whereon she was treading, not that whereon she was resting, and she saith securely, “The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away; as it hath pleased the Lord, so hath been done: be the name of the Lord blessed.”... St. Augustine: On the Psalms, 67:3. 11:25 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 11 3 He says, The soul which blesseth shall be made fat; and he that inebriates shall be inebriated also himself (Proverbs 11:25). For he that blesses outwardly by preaching receives the fatness of inward enlargement; and, while he ceases not to inebriate the minds of his hearers with the wine of eloquence, he becomes increasingly inebriated with the drought of a multiplied gift. Fr. Gregory (the Great), Pastoral Rule, 25. Let us then repeat to ourselves soothing charms drawn from the holy Scripture, and say, “Thou art earth and ashes.” “Why is earth and ashes proud?” (Ecclus. 10:9), and, “The sway of his fury shall be his destruction” (Ecclus. 1:22): and, “The wrathful man is not comely” (Proverbs 11:25, LXX.); for there is nothing more shameful, nothing uglier than a visage inflamed with anger. St. John Chrysostom: Homilies on St. John, 48. 11:26 He that withholds corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells it. 11:26 To get an increase in price is a sign not of simplicity but of cunning. Elsewhere it says: “He that seeketh a high price for his corn is cursed among the people.” St. Ambrose: Duties of the Clergy, 3:6 (37). 11:26 Rightly, therefore, Solomon says: “He that withholdeth corn shall leave it for the nations,” not for his heirs, for the gains of avarice have nothing to do with the rights of succession. St. Ambrose: Duties of the Clergy, 3:6 (44). 11:26 For to hide corn is to retain with one’s self the words of sacred preaching. And every one that does so is cursed among the people, because through his fault of silence only he is condemned in the punishment of the many whom he might have corrected. If persons by no means ignorant of the medicinal art were to see a sore that required lancing, and yet refused to lance it, certainly by their mere inactivity they would be guilty of a brother’s death. Fr. Gregory (the Great), Pastoral Rule, 25. 11:26 As therefore ‘he who withholdeth corn in seed-time is cursed ,’ according to the divine proverb, so he who neglects grace, and hides it without culture, is properly cast out as a wicked and unthankful person. On this account, he praises those who increased [their talents], saying, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a little, I will place thee over much; enter into the joy of thy Lord (Matt. 25:23), St. Athanasius of Alexandria: Paschal Letters, 3:2. 11:27 He that diligently seeks good procures favor: but he that seeks mischief, it shall come unto him. 11:28 He that trusts in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 11:29 He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. vs. 29: He that brings trouble upon himself and his family, by carelessness, or by wickedness, shall be unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is unable to hold the wind, or to satisfy himself with it. He who dissipates his property by riotous living, shall be as unsatisfied as he who attempts to feed upon air. 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winns souls is wise. 11:30 The fruit of righteousness and the tree of life is Christ. He alone, as man, fulfilled all righteousness. And with His own underived life He has brought forth the fruits of knowledge and virtue like a tree, whereof they that eat shall receive eternal life, and shall enjoy the tree of life in paradise, with Adam and all the righteous. But the souls of the unrighteous meet an untimely expulsion from the presence of God, by whom they shall be left to remain in the flame of torment. From the Commentary of St. Hippolytus on Proverbs 11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. Even the righteous, when they offend on earth, shall meet with sharp corrections; much more will the wicked meet the due reward of their sins The Septuagint, Syrian, and Arabic read this verse as follows: “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” And this St, Peter quotes literatim, #1Pe 4:18,
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