Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 11

Verse 1

Balance. Both in commerce, (Deuteronomy xxv. 13.; Calmet) and in passing sentence on others. (Ven. Bede)

Verse 2

Wisdom. God resists the proud, chap. xvi. 18., and xviii. 12., and James iv. 6.

Verse 7

Solicitous. Or ambitious. Hebrew, "the potent," or Septuagint, "the impious."

Verse 8

For him. As comparatively nothing worth to his master, chap. xxi. 18., and Isaias xliii. 3

Verse 11

Overthrown. Ten just men would have saved Sodom. Achan alone threw all Israel into confusion. (Calmet)

Verse 12

Mean. Literally, "indigent" of sense. (Haydock) --- We must put up with some faults, as none are without. (Horace i. Sat. 3.) (Calmet)

Verse 13

Walketh. Septuagint, "the double-tongued," dissembler, or great talker. (Calmet)

Verse 15

That is. Hebrew, "that hateth those who make agreements is secure." (Mont.[Montanus?])

Verse 16

Gracious. Virtuous and beautiful, as God hath granted beauty also for good purposes. This and virtue tend to the advancement of women, while men can use their strength to acquire riches. (Calmet) --- Glory. Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic add, "of her husband. But she that hateth righteousness is a throne of disgrace. The slothful, though rich, shall come to poverty; but the laborious shall retain their riches." Two hemistics seem to be lost in Hebrew. (Kennicott) --- Most of the additions in the Septuagint are only glosses, or useless repetitions, (Calmet) though they seem not to be so in this place. (Haydock)

Verse 17

Kindred. Hebrew, "flesh," Genesis xxix. 14. The miser is cruel even to himself.

Verse 21

In hand. At rest, or making agreements. God will punish the race of the wicked.

Verse 22

Foolish. Beauty, without prudence, leads to ruin, as ornaments are ill bestowed on swine. The women in the east sometimes wore rings in their noses, (Genesis xxiv. 22.; Calmet) or hanging down upon them, Isaias iii. 21. (Menochius)

Verse 24

Others. Moderation is always requisite. Hebrew, "there is one withholding from rectitude, yet for a defect," (Mont.[Montanus?]) being too saving, he is a loser. (Haydock) --- Avarice does not always increase riches. (Calmet)

Verse 25

Himself. He shall receive abundantly, 2 Corinthians ix. 6. The beneficent shall be amply rewarded both in this world and in the next.

Verse 26

Corn. In times of scarcity. See Amos viii. 7.

Verse 29

House. By his profligacy, or law-suits, shall be impoverished, (ver. 17.; Calmet) or if he act with violence, he will make his house empty, Ecclesiasticus iv. 35. (Menochius)

Verse 30

CHAPTER XI.

Life. Producing excellent fruits of virtue and edification.

Verse 31

Receive. Punishment, for almost inevitable faults, or be treated according to his deserts. Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, "if the just be hardly saved, where shall the impious and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter iv. 18.) (Calmet) --- Afflictions attend the just in this life. Shall the wicked escape? (Menochius)