Proverbs 11:3

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 11:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
Proverbs 11:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The integrity of the upright shall guide them, etc.] The Spirit of God is the best guide of an upright man; he leads into all truth, and unto the land of uprightness, and continues to be a guide, even unto death; and it is right to walk after him, and not after the flesh: and besides him, the upright man has the word of God as a lamp to his feet, and a light to his paths, which he does well to take heed to; and next to that is the sincerity and uprightness of his heart, which will not suffer him, knowingly and willingly, to go aside into crooked paths, or to do amiss: integrity of heart and innocency of hand go together; such are the followers of the Lamb, as described, (<661404>Revelation…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“guide--to lead, as a shepherd (Pro 6:7; Psa 78:52). perverseness--ill-nature. destroy--with violence.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The integrity: Pro 11:5, Pro 13:6; Psa 25:21, Psa 26:1; Joh 7:17 the perverseness: Pro 21:7, Pro 28:18; Ecc 7:17; Isa 1:28 Proverbs 11:4”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“3 The integrity of the upright guideth them; But the perverseness of the ungodly destroyeth them. To the upright, ישׁרים, who keep the line of rectitude without turning aside therefrom into devious paths ( Psa 125:4.), stand opposed (as at Pro 2:21.) the ungodly (faithless), בּגדים, who conceal (from בּגד, to cover, whence בּגד = כּסוּת) malicious thoughts and plans. And the contrast of תּמּה, integrity = unreserved loving submission, is סלף, a word peculiar to the Solomonic Mashal, with its verb סלּף (vid., p. 32). Hitzig explains it by the Arab. saraf, to step out, to tread over; and Ewald by lafat, to turn, to turn about ("treacherous, false step"), both of which are improbable. Schultens…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification