Proverbs 11:28
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He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The following proverbs are especially directed, as connected with this כן, against the contradiction of the external appearance and of the masked internal nature. 20 An abomination to Jahve are the crookedly dishonest of heart, And they who are of honest walk are his delight.
Open source ↗Observe, 1. Our riches will fail us when we are in the greatest need: He that trusts in them, as if they would secure him the favour of God and be his protection and portion, shall fall, as a man who lays his weight on a broken reed, which will not only disappoint him, but run into his hand and pierce him. 2. Our righteousness will stand us in stead when our riches fail us: The righteous shall then flourish as a branch, the branch of righteousness, like a tree whose leaf shall not wither, Psa 1:3. Even in death, when riches fail men, the bones of the righteous shall flourish as a herb, Isa 66:14. When those that take root in the world wither those that are grafted into Christ and partake of his root and fatness shall be fruitful and flourishing.
Open source ↗11:28 Money can be a blessing from God, but it is uncertain. The godly trust in God and flourish (see Ps 1).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
Place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.
The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’