Proverbs 11

The poor man is as it were an altar, if we bring our alms and lay upon it, with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Faith though it has sometimes a trembling hand, it must not have a withered hand; but must stretch forth itself to works of mercy: There's nothing lost by charita…

For a cup of cold water they shall have rivers of pleasure. In fact, God will make it up some way or other in this life (Proverbs 11:25). The liberal soul shall be made [reconstructed: fat]: as the loaves in breaking multiplied, or as the widow's oil increased by pouring out (1…

When death's gun goes off away flies the estate. (1 Timothy 6:7) It is certain we can carry nothing out of the world: So that there is no making sure any thing here below, but we may make sure of the kingdom of heaven (Proverbs 11:18): To him that works righteousness is a sure r…

3. Blessed in his estate. Omni rerum copia affluet, Proverbs 11. 25. The liberal soul shall be made fat. He shall not only have the venison, but the blessing.

—Credula vitam Spes fovet, & melius cras fore, semper ait.— A sinner's hope is in this life; he hopes to increase his estate, he makes the wedge of gold his hope; it is a perishing hope (Proverbs 11:7). But the righteous man's hope excels, his hope is in Christ, his hope is both…

Secondly, with a mantle of faithfulness, not to discover the sins of others further than will be of necessity for the healing of them. If a man be fallen under his burden, or under his beast, and he is not able himself to help him up, he must then call them that are of strength,…

God beholds all things in Heaven and on Earth with one simple single act of his understanding; without composition, discourse, or representation of species. 12. Every believing prayer has a sure reward: He will reward you openly: Not a good word to God, or work for God, shall be…

This metaphor of sowing, does elsewhere signify all the moral actions of a man's life, whether they be good or evil. Of good actions Solomon says, He that sows righteousness, has a sure recompense (Proverbs 11:18). Of evil actions, he says, He that sows iniquity, shall reap affl…

The Word tells us, that there is no such way to improve our Estates, as to lay them out with a cheerful liberality for God; and that our withholding our hands, when God and duty calls to distribute, will not be for our advantage. See Proverbs 11:25 Isaiah 32:8 Proverbs 19:17 Pro…

Here are Kings, men that have great power; Counselors, men full of wisdom; Princes that have riches, so much gold that they can stuff their graves with it, yet these cannot defend themselves against death: death will not obey the authority of Kings, nor does it fear their frowns…

Fourthly, another kind of theft is in buying and selling; and this is a very large and voluminous deceit: for the subtlety of men has found out so many artifices to defraud and over-reach one another, that to recount them, is almost as hard as to escape them. Here come in the fa…

First, since usually all actions in law and judgment concern either the person, or the estate of your brother, by a false witness you not only wrong him in his name and reputation, but in one of these, and so are not only a slanderer, but a thief or murderer. Proverbs 11:9: "An…

We see in other things use makes prompt and perfect: it is use chiefly that makes the right hand stronger than the left: a key much used is bright, dis-use makes it rusty: a pump much used brings forth water easily and abundantly: instruments of iron and steel are brighter with…

HEaring a whole quire of Birds chirping and twinking together, it ingaged my curiosity a little to enquire into the occasion of that convocation, which mine eye quickly inform'd me of; for I perceived a dead Hawk in the bush, about which they made such a noise, seeming to triump…

It is a fearful thing when a man and all his hopes die together. Thus says Solomon of the wicked: when he dies (many of them before, but at the utmost then all of them) then die his hopes (Proverbs 11:7). But the righteous has hope in his death (Proverbs 14:32).

Christ was to be the sinner in law, and was to suffer in our stead. Solomon has a passage concerning suretyship; (Proverbs 11:15) He that is surety for a stranger, shall smart for it: or, (as the Hebrew will bear it) sore-bruised, or, (as it is in the margin) shall be bruised an…

A sermon (Number 626) delivered on Sunday Morning, April 23, 1865, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. “He that waters shall be watered also himself.”—Proverbs 11:25. The general principle is that in living for the good of others, we shall be profited a…

A sermon (Number 642) delivered on Sunday morning, July 30, 1865, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. “He that withholds corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells it.”—Proverbs 11:26. If I dared, I should al…

A sermon (Number 850) delivered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. “He that wins souls is wise.”—Proverbs 11:30. The text does not say “he that wins sovereigns is wise,” though no doubt he thinks himself wise, and perhaps in a certain grovelling sense…

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.” —Proverbs 11:30. I had very great joy last night—many of you know why but some do not.

We find in any art of common learning, the more we confer about things with others, the more understanding we get ourselves. (Proverbs 11:25): The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters, shall be watered also himself. It is spoken of alms; it is true of spiritual alm…

This was the cause of David's trouble, and this puts a sting into all miseries. God's children smart under their sins here in the world, as well as others (Proverbs 11:31). Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. Recompensed i…

And then will I profess to them, I never knew you; depart from me you that work iniquity. (Proverbs 11:31) Behold the righteous shall be recompensed upon the earth, much more the wicked and the sinner. (Exodus 32, etc.) 2. That he may go on in ungodliness, injustice, intemperanc…

Thus is greedy getting seen by unjust means, and the immoderate use of lawful means to the oppression of the body and soul. (2.) The other discovery is an unworthy detention (Proverbs 11:24): There is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty. This covetousness i…

Delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desire of your heart, his business is to maintain communion with God, and his desires will not miscarry. 2. When they are granted it shall do you no hurt (Proverbs 11:23). The desire of the righteous is only good, but the ex…

4. Opportunity of molesting God's servants is taken away, and afflicting the church by their oppressions, and so way is made for the enlarging of Christ's kingdom. 5. As God's justice is manifested (Proverbs 11:10): "When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: but w…

(Psalm 5:5) You hate all the workers of iniquity. (Proverbs 11:20) They that are of a froward heart are an abomination to the Lord, but such as are upright in their way are his delight. The more obedient the more God loves us, the less obedient the less God loves us.

Though sentence of absolution takes place as to their persons and state, yet in this life they may smart sorely for the breach of the Law. In time of trial God will make the world know he is impartial, that none shall go free, but the sentence of the Word shall be executed (Prov…

He can discern integrity, and prefers it before all manner of service and pomp in worship that is yielded to him. Now this delight of God is not only in the thing itself, in the uprightness, but in the persons of the upright, upon account of their uprightness: so Proverbs 11:20:…

Now nothing will support us but the faithfulness of God. Proverbs 11:18: The wicked works a deceitful work, but to him that sows righteousness there shall be a sure reward. Men think to be happy by their sin, but find themselves deceived at last; but none can be deceived that tr…

4 Sinners then must lose the hopes they had of heaven: wicked men have no reason to hope for heaven, and yet they will hope, though against hope; as Abraham and good men hope against hope when they have God's promise; so the wicked hope against hope, notwithstanding God's threat…

4. Godliness is the surest profit, as it is safe, so it is sure, men make great ventures for the world, but all runs upon uncertainties; many venture much, and wait long, and yet find no return but disappointment, they sow much, and yet reap nothing. But the gain of godliness is…

2. Those duties that find acceptance with God, must be done in sincerity, God does not take our duties by count, nor judge of us according to the frequency of our performances, but according to the sincerity of our hearts in the performance. It is this that commends both the doe…

The best way to encourage your ministers, is, to let them see the travail of their souls in your new birth. It is a great comfort when a minister does not only woo souls, but win souls (Proverbs 11:30). He that wins souls is wise.

Objection 1: We may give, and so in time come ourselves to want. Answer: Let Basil answer this: 'Wells which have their water drawn spring ever more freely' (Proverbs 11:25). The liberal soul shall be made fat.

A contentious person vexes himself and eclipses his own comfort. He is like the bird that beats itself against the cage; he troubles his own flesh (Proverbs 11:17). He is like one who pares off the sweetness of the apple and eats nothing but the core.

O what a sad thing is it, that one should go from a precious Sermon, a sweet prayer, and bring nothing away but a grudge against the instrument God used; as we see in the Pharisees and others at Christs preaching. Secondly, you robbest your self of the joy of your life; He that…

3. It is used thus, when a man is given in place of another. (Proverbs 11:8): The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead. (Job 34:24): And he makes others to stand in their place, as before in the Hebrew.

Death frees a man from other debts, but it will not free him from this: not the death of the debtor, but of the creditor dischargs this debt. 10. There is deceitfulness in sin, (Hebrews 3:13). (Proverbs 11:18). The wicked works a deceitful work.

Noah was perfect in his Generation. Truth resembles God, and when God sees a sincere heart, he sees his own Image, and he cannot choose but fall in love with it, Proverbs 11. 20. He that is upright in his way, is God's delight. 2. Sincerity makes our services find acceptance wit…

8th Commandment: You shall not steal. He breaks this commandment: who lives in no calling (1 Thessalonians 3:11); who neglects his calling (Jeremiah 48:10); who spends his wealth in riot and provides not for his family (1 Timothy 5:8); who is not content with his estate but seek…

I have learned of my Lord to be kind, and have found by experience that I have gained thereby. There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty: There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing; there is that make…

If you love anything, love something which is better than yourself; and that only is Christ, who is altogether lovely. 2. Riches avail not in the day of wrath, Proverbs 11.4. Riches are no lifeguard to defend us from divine fury; but how lovely is Christ who can screen off the f…

Possibly now in the time of your peace and prosperity you regard not these spiritual wants; but when the days of sorrow and darkness shall come upon you, when God shall drop into your consciences a little of his wrath and displeasure, you may as well seek to cure a wound in your…

There is a way of sin that seems good to a man, but the issues thereof are death; but on the contrary, when a man keeps his heart in a gracious frame, whatever comes from him is lively, if a word, or an affection, there is life in it; the thoughts of the righteous are right (Pro…