Proverbs 11:  Covering Up vs. Revealing

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.  Proverbs 11:30

The Righteous are Lord’s Delight and a Tree of Life to Others

 

11:4  From time to time the proverbs speak of death as a time of reward and punishment.  Riches cannot help with this.  Only righteousness has meaning and power beyond grave.

4  Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

11:12 Patience and control are part of wisdom.  A person who is devoid of wisdom, who “lacks heart” (see 10:13), despises his neighbor.  But the understanding person knows enough to control his passion and to keep silence.

12  He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

11:13 A faithful friend conceals delicate matters that an unfaithful person reveals.  “Love covers a multitude of sins” (see 10:12; James 5:20; 1 Pet. 4:8).

13  A talebearer* reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Note:  Talebearer –  one that spreads gossip or rumors

11:15, 16  These two proverbs balance each other.  The first warns against rashly giving surety or a pledge for a stranger.  The second praises generosity:  generosity begets honor.  One of the greatest virtues is to be freed of possessiveness.  The members of the early church gave freely to those in need.

15  He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure. 16  A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.

11:19 Proverbs such as this remind us that the pursuit of righteousness is a matter of life and death.

19  As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

11:30 As in 3:18, the image of the tree of life denotes the tree in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2: 3). Righteousness and wisdom are always of recovering the lost tree of life.

30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

11:31  Here is a how much more proverbs, one that argues from a premise to conclusion.  Since the righteous will finally find their reward (2 Cor. 5:10), it follows that the wicked, who are defiant toward God and in conflict with His works, will certainly receive judgment.

31  If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

** When it comes to our own secrets, something that we regret that we did in the past, we don’t want others to find out.  We should also learn to conceal and cover up other people’s secrets as well in obedience of God.  That’s how we love.  That’s how God loved us. 

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:39

 

11 1  Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.

2  When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

3  The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

4  Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

5  The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. 6  The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

7  When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.

8  The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

9  The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

10  When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. 11  By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12  He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace. 13  A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

14  Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15  He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure.

16  A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.

17  The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

18  The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

19  As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

20  Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

21  Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22  As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

23  The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24  There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

25  The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

26  The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27  He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28  He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29  He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

31  If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.