NOTES for Pro 11:1-31
Pride will inevitably be put to shame; humility stands opposed to it. When speaking with people whose understanding of Christianity is superficial, one constantly has to remind them that humility does not mean being downtrodden. It includes a sober view of oneself and can be fully compatible with boldness when boldness is needed. But the boldness and activity of the humble are directed not against God or other people, but toward what is good; they do not oppress those around them. The acquisition of strength begins with a critical assessment of one’s weaknesses.
The wicked person perishes through his own wickedness, and whose hope dies with his death? Clearly not the hope of the righteous person who trusts in the Creator. Nor was it the righteous person who prepared disaster for the wicked; the wicked person himself was caught in the trap he had prepared for the righteous. People may not always rejoice when the righteous prosper; sometimes the opposite happens: people fail to notice or appreciate the righteous, while they mourn evildoers. But even this does not change the matter or refute what was said, for it is not the evildoers who enable a city’s inhabitants to rejoice, but those very inconspicuous righteous people whose mere presence keeps the city from final destruction.