Proverbs 11:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

NIV: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

NASB: When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom.

CSB: When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

NLT: Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

KJV: When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

NKJV: When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

This verse contrasts pride and humility. The word for "pride" used here is zā'don, which also means "arrogance." This is a person who sees no need for God in his life. His overconfidence boils over into self-indulgent living and egotism. He believes he is master of his own fate, but he fails to understand that pride goes before a fall. Eventually, he will experience the humiliation of reality.

Acts 12:21–23 reports the awful effects of pride on King Herod. He donned his royal robes, sat on the throne, addressed a large crowd, and received the crowd's adoration. Everyone shouted that he was a god and not a man. Rather than deflect such praise, Herod embraced it. Immediately Herod's pride turned to disgrace: "an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last" (Acts 12:23).

Micah 6:8 cites one of the Lord's requirements for His people is walking humbly with our God. Solomon observes here that humility and true wisdom go hand in hand.

Proverbs 11:1–8 describes the righteous life of a wise man in contrast to the corrupt life of a wicked man. The righteous person is honest and is delivered from trouble, whereas the wicked person is dishonest, crooked, lustful, and without hope.

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.

Accessed 5/7/2024 2:46:29 AM