The big picture
Proverbs 11 opens in verse 1 with “A false balance is abomination to the LORD : but a just weight is his delight.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.”, and closes in verse 31 with “Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the…” Repeated or prominent terms include wicked, righteous, righteousness, upright, cometh. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 31Proverbs 11:1-8
1–8: A false balance is abomination to the LORD : but a just weight is his…
Proverbs 11:1–8 opens with “A false balance is abomination to the LORD : but a just weight is his delight.” and reaches “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 11 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, righteousness, upright, cometh, with particular weight carried by cometh, righteousness, wicked.
Context that brings the passage to life
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD : but a just weight is his delight.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abomination, balance, delight. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 11:1-8
King James Version1A false balance is abomination to the LORD : but a just weight is his delight.
2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
Proverbs 11:9-16
9–16: An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through…
Proverbs 11:9–16 opens with “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be…” and reaches “A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 11 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, righteousness, upright, cometh, with particular weight carried by city, mouth, neighbour.
Context that brings the passage to life
“An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blessing, city, exalted. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 11:9-16
King James Version9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:17-24
17–24: The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel…
Proverbs 11:17–24 opens with “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” and reaches “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 11 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, righteousness, upright, cometh, with particular weight carried by wicked, good, hand.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cruel, doeth, flesh. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.” The line’s distinctive content terms include pursueth, death, evil. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 11:17-24
King James Version17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD : but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
Proverbs 11:25-31
25–31: The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be…
Proverbs 11:25–31 opens with “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” and reaches “Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 11 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, righteousness, upright, cometh, with particular weight carried by righteous, seeketh, wise.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 11:25-31
King James Version25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 11:1 begins with “A false balance is abomination to the LORD : but a just weight is his delight.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 11:16 forms a natural hinge: “A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.”
The final note
Proverbs 11:31 leaves the reader with “Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wicked, righteous, righteousness, upright, cometh, delivered help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How will Abram's story answer Babel?
The builders seek to make their own name; God promises to make Abram's name great and to bless other families through him.
What obstacles frame the coming promise?
The family has not reached Canaan, and Sarai has no child.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.