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11:1 [Statera dolosa abominatio est apud Dominum, et pondus aequum voluntas ejus.
*H A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just weight is his will.


Ver. 1. Balance. Both in commerce, (Deut. xxv. 13. C.) and in passing sentence on others. Ven. Bede.

11:2 Ubi fuerit superbia, ibi erit et contumelia ; ubi autem est humilitas, ibi et sapientia.
*H Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there also is wisdom.


Ver. 2. Wisdom. God resists the proud. c. xvi. 18. and xviii. 12. and Jam. iv. 6.

11:3 Simplicitas justorum diriget eos, et supplantatio perversorum vastabit illos.
The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them.
11:4 Non proderunt divitiae in die ultionis ; justitia autem liberabit a morte.
Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall deliver from death.
11:5 Justitia simplicis diriget viam ejus, et in impietate sua corruet impius.
The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
11:6 Justitia rectorum liberabit eos, et in insidiis suis capientur iniqui.
The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust shall be caught in their own snares.
11:7 Mortuo homine impio, nulla erit ultra spes, et exspectatio sollicitorum peribit.
*H When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and the expectation of the solicitous shall perish.


Ver. 7. Solicitous. Or ambitious. Heb. "the potent," or Sept. "the impious."

11:8 Justus de angustia liberatus est, et tradetur impius pro eo.]
*H The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be given up for him.


Ver. 8. For him. As comparatively nothing worth to his master. C. xxi. 18. Is. xliii. 3

11:9 [Simulator ore decipit amicum suum ; justi autem liberabuntur scientia.
The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge.
11:10 In bonis justorum exsultabit civitas, et in perditione impiorum erit laudatio.
When it goeth well with the just, the city shall rejoice: and when the wicked perish, there shall be praise.
11:11 Benedictione justorum exaltabitur civitas, et ore impiorum subvertetur.
*H By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown.


Ver. 11. Overthrown. Ten just men would have saved Sodom. Achan alone threw all Israel into confusion. C.

11:12 Qui despicit amicum suum indigens corde est ; vir autem prudens tacebit.
*H He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man will hold his peace.


Ver. 12. Mean. Lit. "indigent" of sense. H. — We must put up with some faults, as none are without. Hor. i. Sat. 3. C.

11:13 Qui ambulat fraudulenter, revelat arcana ; qui autem fidelis est animi, celat amici commissum.
*H He that walketh deceitfully, revealeth secrets: but he that is faithful, concealeth the thing committed to him by his friend.


Ver. 13. Walketh. Sept. "the double-tongued," dissembler, or great talker. C.

11:14 Ubi non est gubernator, populus corruet ; salus autem, ubi multa consilia.
Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel.
11:15 Affligetur malo qui fidem facit pro extraneo ; qui autem cavet laqueos securus erit.
*H He shall be afflicted with evil, that is surety for a stranger: but he that is aware of snares, shall be secure.


Ver. 15. That is. Heb. "that hateth those who make agreements is secure." Mont.

11:16 Mulier gratiosa inveniet gloriam, et robusti habebunt divitias.]
*H A gracious woman shall find glory: and the strong shall have riches.


Ver. 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. C. — Glory. Sept. Syr. and Arab. 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 Heb. Kennicott. — Most of the additions in the Sept. are only glosses, or useless repetitions, (C.) though they seem not to be so in this place. H.

11:17 [Benefacit animae suae vir misericors ; qui autem crudelis est, etiam propinquos abjicit.
*H A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel casteth off even his own kindred.


Ver. 17. Kindred. Heb. "flesh." Gen. xxix. 14. The miser is cruel even to himself.

11:18 Impius facit opus instabile, seminanti autem justitiam merces fidelis.
The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth justice, there is a faithful reward.
11:19 Clementia praeparat vitam, et sectatio malorum mortem.
Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death.
11:20 Abominabile Domino cor pravum, et voluntas ejus in iis qui simpliciter ambulant.
A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.
11:21 Manus in manu non erit innocens malus ; semen autem justorum salvabitur.
*H Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of the just shall be saved.


Ver. 21. In hand. At rest, or making agreements. God will punish the race of the wicked.

11:22 Circulus aureus in naribus suis, mulier pulchra et fatua.
*H A golden ring in a swine's snout, a woman fair and foolish.


Ver. 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, (Gen. xxiv. 22. C.) or hanging down upon them. Is. iii. 21. M.

11:23 Desiderium justorum omne bonum est ; praestolatio impiorum furor.
The desire of the just is all good, the expectation of the wicked is indignation.
11:24 Alii dividunt propria, et ditiores fiunt ; alii rapiunt non sua, et semper in egestate sunt.
*H Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take away what is not their own, and are always in want.


Ver. 24. Others. Moderation is always requisite. Heb. "there is one withholding from rectitude, yet for a defect," (Mont.) being too saving, he is a loser. H. — Avarice does not always increase riches. C.

11:25 Anima quae benedicit impinguabitur, et qui inebriat, ipse quoque inebriabitur.
*H The soul that blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that inebriateth, shall be inebriated also himself.


Ver. 25. Himself. He shall receive abundantly. 2 Cor. ix. 6. The beneficent shall be amply rewarded both in this world and in the next.

11:26 Qui abscondit frumenta maledicetur in populis ; benedictio autem super caput vendentium.
*H He that hideth up corn, shall be cursed among the people: but a blessing upon the head of them that sell.


Ver. 26. Corn. In times of scarcity. See Amos viii. 7.

11:27 Bene consurgit diluculo qui quaerit bona ; qui autem investigator malorum est, opprimetur ab eis.
Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that seeketh after evil things, shall be oppressed by them.
11:28 Qui confidit in divitiis suis corruet : justi autem quasi virens folium germinabunt.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf.
11:29 Qui conturbat domum suam possidebit ventos, et qui stultus est serviet sapienti.
*H He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and the fool shall serve the wise.


Ver. 29. House. By his profligacy, or law-suits, shall be impoverished, (v. 17. C.) or if he act with violence, he will make his house empty. Eccli. iv. 35. M.

11:30 Fructus justi lignum vitae, et qui suscipit animas sapiens est.
*H The fruit of the just man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls is wise.


Ver. 30. Life. Producing excellent fruits of virtue and edification.

11:31 Si justus in terra recipit, quanto magis impius et peccator !]
*H If the just man receive in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner.


Ver. 31. Receive. Punishment, for almost inevitable faults, or be treated according to his deserts. Sept. Syr. Arab. "if the just be hardly saved, where shall the impious and the sinner appear?" 1 Pet. iv. 18. C. — Afflictions attend the just in this life. Shall the wicked escape? M.

* Footnote * 1_Peter 4 : 18 And if the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
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