Proverbs 11:5 Commentary and Bible Study

One is governed by righteousness in all his decisions and choices, and the other is led by wickedness, because that is the reigning characteristic of his heart. The righteous finds his way made smooth, both as a result of the providence of God, and because his righteousness causes him to avoid many snares along the way. The verse may be read with the emphasis on the words ‘his own’, and the leading thought is that wickedness is not only the occasion but often also the instrument of a man’s downfall. This is a demonstration of the justice of God, because when men persist in doing the things that he has forbidden, it is entirely just that their disobedience should bring about their destruction, demonstrating that their downfall is linked to their sin. This is a strong warning to others, and a vindication of the holiness of God in his prohibition of evil. Wickedness carries its own punishment within it. The wicked of course choose not to see this and only notice the possibility of the enjoyment of sin, but when they fall by their own wickedness they know they have been warned in advance. But righteousness is a safeguard to the perfect. Solomon does not suggest that any can be without sin, for the word perfect means complete, whole, sound, those with integrity. Righteousness prompts him to make safe choices that avoid the pitfalls of wickedness.