Proverbs 11:9

A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Under this prohibition of "a false balance" is forbidden all fraud, by whatsoever suns of deception it may be committed, (; ). It is "abomination to the Lord," because it is perpetrated under the semblance of justice. "A just weight" - literally, a perfect stone; because stones were anciently used as weights (; ; )....

1-9 When children are under the mother's eye, she has an opportunity of fashioning their minds aright. Those who are grown up, should often call to mind the good teaching they received when children. The many awful instances of promising characters who have been ruined by vile women, and love of wine, should warn every one to avoid these evils. Wine is to be used for want or medicine. Every creature of God is good, and wine, though abused, has its use. By the same rule, due praise and consolation should be used as cordials to the dejected and tempted, not administered to the confident and self-sufficient. All in authority should be more carefully temperate even than other men; and should be protectors of those who are unable or afraid to plead their own cause. Our blessed Lord did not decline the bitterest dregs of the cup of sorrow put into his hands; but he puts the cup of consolation...

Verse Proverbs 11:9. _A HYPOCRITE WITH_ HIS _MOUTH_] חנף _chaneph_ might be better translated _infidel_ than _hypocrite_. The latter is one that pretends to religion; that uses it for _secular purposes_. The former is one who _disbelieves_ Divine revelation, and accordingly is _polluted_, and lives in _pollution_. This is properly the force of the original word. Such persons deal in calumny and lies, and often thus destroy the character of their neighbour. Besides, they are very zealous in propagating their own infidel notions; and thus, by this means, destroy their neighbour; but the experimental knowledge which the _just_ have of God and his salvation prevents them from being ensnared....

THROUGH KNOWLEDGE - Better, By the knowledge of the just, shall they (i. e., the neighbors) be delivered....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 11:1 A FALSE BALANCE; literally, _balances of deceit _(Proverbs 20:23). The repetition of the injunctions of Deuteronomy 25:13, Deuteronomy 25:14 and Leviticus 19:35, Leviticus 19:36 points to fraud consequent on increased commercial dealings, and the necessity of moral and religious considerations to control practices which the civil authority could not a

AN HYPOCRITE WITH [HIS] MOUTH DESTROYETH HIS NEIGHBOUR,.... Deceives him with his flatteries and lies, and draws him into destructive schemes and practices; or "corrupts" him, as the word i signifies, and as the Targum renders it, with false doctrines; so, with fair words and good speeches, such who lie in wait to deceive impose upon the simple and credulous; and false teachers, with their damnable heresies, bring swift destruction on men; and particularly antichrist and his emissaries, through speaking lies in hypocrisy, corrupt and destroy many, 1 Timothy 4:1; BUT THROUGH KNOWLEDGE SHALL THE JUST BE DELIVERED; from the hypocrite and deceitful worker, and from being corrupted and destroyed by the words of his mouth: Jarchi says, through the knowledge of the law, which warns against him; but rather through the knowledge of the Gospel, which the just man has; for as by thi

CHAPTER 11 THE CONTRAST CONTINUED The continued contrast in this chapter between the righteous and the wicked contains many precious gems, sweet to faith and wholesome for instruction. In the second verse there is a warning as to pride. Pride and shame are vitally linked together, as is lowliness and wisdom. Lowliness therefore is true wisdom. A Rabbinical comment on this passage says, “Lowly souls are filled with wisdom as the lowly places are filled with water.” Again riches are mentioned. They profit nothing in the day of wrath. (See Zephaniah 1:1 .) But righteousness delivered from death (Proverbs 11:4). What wisdom there is in Proverbs 11:8, “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, but the wicked cometh

PROVERBS 11. The orthodox view of strictly retributive justice found in Proverbs 10:24 f., Proverbs 11:27 is represented by a further group (Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 11:18, and Proverbs 11:31). Proverbs concerning speech are also frequent (Proverbs 11:9; Proverbs 11:12 f.). There are, moreover, several new points_ e.g._ the value of wisdom to the commu

MOUTH. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), App-6, for what is said by it. THE JUST. righteous ones....

_be delivered_ i.e. from the destruction wrought by the "mouth of the hypocrite, (or godless man R.V.)". His knowledge will enable him to see and avoid the snare (παγὶς, LXX.). Some, however, would render, "through the knowledge of the righteous shall they (i.e. the neighbour of the first clause, which as a noun of multitude may have a plural verb) be delivered." This may be intended by the LXX.: ἐν στόματι ἀσεβῶν παγὶς πολίταις, αἴσθησις δὲ δικαίων εὔοδος (sc. πολίταις)....