17 The merciful man does himself good , But the cruel man does himself harm .
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages , But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward .
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life , And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death .
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord , But the blameless in their walk are His delight .
21 Assuredly , the evil man will not go unpunished , But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered .
22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful 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 , and yet increases all the more , And there is one who withholds what is justly due , and yet it results only in want .
25 The generous man will be prosperous , And he who waters will himself be watered .
26 He who withholds grain , the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor , But he who seeks evil , evil will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall , But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf .
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit wind , And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 11:17-29
Commentary on Proverbs 11:17
(Read Proverbs 11:17)
A cruel, froward, ill-natured man, is vexatious to those that are, and should be to him as his own flesh, and punishes himself.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:18
(Read Proverbs 11:18)
He that makes it his business to do good, shall have a reward, as sure to him as eternal truth can make it.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:19
(Read Proverbs 11:19)
True holiness is true happiness. The more violent a man is in sinful pursuits, the more he hastens his own destruction.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:20
(Read Proverbs 11:20)
Nothing is more hateful to God, than hypocrisy and double dealing, which are here signified. God delights in such as aim and act with uprightness.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:21
(Read Proverbs 11:21)
Joining together in sin shall not protect the sinners.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:22
(Read Proverbs 11:22)
Beauty is abused by those who have not discretion or modesty with it. This is true of all bodily endowments.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:23
(Read Proverbs 11:23)
The wicked desire mischief to others, but it shall return upon themselves.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:24
(Read Proverbs 11:24)
A man may grow poor by not paying just debts, not relieving the poor, not allowing needful expenses. Let men be ever so saving of what they have, if God appoints, it comes to nothing.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:25
(Read Proverbs 11:25)
Both in temporal and spiritual things, God commonly deals with his people according to the measure by which they deal with their brethren.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:26
(Read Proverbs 11:26)
We must not hoard up the gifts of God's bounty, merely for our own advantage.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:27
(Read Proverbs 11:27)
Seeking mischief is here set against seeking good; for those that are not doing good are doing hurt, even to themselves.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:28
(Read Proverbs 11:28)
The true believer is a branch of the living Vine. When those that take root in the world wither, those who are grafted into Christ shall be fruitful.
Commentary on Proverbs 11:29
(Read Proverbs 11:29)
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.