Discovery BoxProverbs 11:5-7 
Context11:5 The righteousness of the blameless will make straight their way, 1
but the wicked person will fall by his own wickedness. 2
11:6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, 3
but the faithless will be captured 4 by their own desires. 5
1 tn Heb “his way.”
2 sn The righteous will enjoy security and serenity throughout life. Righteousness makes the path straight; wickedness destroys the wicked.
3 sn The contrast is between being rescued or delivered (נָצַל, natsal) and being captured (לָכַד, lakhad). Righteousness is freeing; [evil] desires are enslaving.
4 tn Heb “taken captive” (so NRSV); NIV, TEV “are trapped.”
5 tn Heb “but by the desire of the faithless are they taken captive.”
6 tn The first colon features an imperfect tense depicting habitual action, while the second has a perfect tense verb depicting gnomic action.
sn The subject of this proverb is the hope of the wicked, showing its consequences – his expectations die with him (Ps 49). Any hope for long life and success borne of wickedness will be disappointed.
7 tc There are several suggested changes for this word אוֹנִים (’onim, “vigor” or “strength”). Rashi, a Jewish scholar who lived
8 tc The LXX adds an antithesis to this: “When the righteous dies, hope does not perish.” The LXX translators wanted to see the hope of the righteous fulfilled in the world to come.
