Proverbs 11:5

“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, etc.] Or “make [it] plain”f295; that is, the righteousness of those who are perfect in Christ, complete in him, perfectly justified by his righteousness; that righteousness makes their way plain; it is the direct way, the highway, the pathway to eternal life and happiness; see (<201228>Proverbs 12:28); but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness; or, “in his wickedness”f296: in his own wicked way, which he has chosen and delights to walk in; he shall stumble therein, and fall into ruin and destruction, into hell and damnation: or by means or because of it he will fall; his wickedness will be the cause of his fall; as it will be the…”

“direct--or, "make plain"; wicked ways are not plain (Pro 13:17).”

“direct: Heb. rectify, Pro 11:3, Pro 1:31, Pro 1:32, Pro 5:22; Sa2 17:23; Est 7:3-10; Psa 9:15, Psa 9:16; Mat 27:4, Mat 27:5 Proverbs 11:6”

“5 The righteousness of the blameless smootheth his way, And by his own wickedness doth the wicked fall. With the תּמים (cf. Pro 1:12), formed after the passive, more than with תּם, is connected the idea of the perfected, but more in the negative sense of moral spotlessness than of moral perfection. The rectitude of a man who seeks to keep his conscience and his character pure, maketh smooth (ישּׁר, as Pro 3:6, not of the straightness of the line, but of the surface, evenness) his life's path, so that he can pursue his aim without stumbling and hindrance, and swerving from the direct way; while, on the contrary, the godless comes to ruin by his godlessness - that by which he seeks to forward…”