Proverbs 11:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

NIV: The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

NASB: The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them.

CSB: The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.

NLT: Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

KJV: The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

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

According to this verse, moral people lead lives conducted with honor, honesty, and reliability. The Hebrew root word for "integrity" is tummah, also translated "blameless" in other passages. This indicates moral wholeness or not having any moral blemish. This does not mean a person is perfectly free from all sin, of all kinds. It does mean someone whose life gives others no room for criticism. This reliance on living with integrity keeps the morally upright person on the right path. This helps them avoids much of the trouble which sin brings. Moral wholeness, such as that which comes from honoring God, leads to green pastures and protects from hazardous bypaths (Psalm 23:1–4).

However, the dishonest person is ruined by their own deceitfulness. In English, the term "crooked" implies someone who lies or twists for their own profit, especially with respect to money. Judas Iscariot is an example of a deceitful person who destroyed himself. He feigned love for Jesus by kissing Him (Matthew 26:48–49), but this was a lie. His real purpose was to identify Jesus to soldiers, who then arrested Him and led Him away to be tried and crucified. Suffering from second thoughts, but not a godly repentance, Judas threw the money he'd been given down at the feet of the religious leaders who hired him. Then Judas ran away to hang himself (Matthew 27:3–5).

Proverbs 13:15 tells us "the way of the treacherous is their ruin."

Many of the proverbs in this section deal with contrasts between those who are righteous and those who are wicked. Righteous people follow God's will, bring honor and blessing on themselves, and have hope. Evil people disobey God, bring trouble on others, are hated, and their lives lead to disaster.

This continues a long passage filled with Solomon's general, common-sense observations. As in chapter 10, Solomon presents a variety of contrasts. We see distinctions such as those between integrity and dishonesty, trust in wealth and trust in the Lord, wise and foolish talk, true riches and false riches, the blessing of the righteous and the harm caused by the wicked, and the respective rewards of the godly and those who are evil.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.