提要
所羅門的箴言繼續強調誠實在商業行為中的重要性，因為那樣可以討上帝的喜悅。「詭詐的天平」是一種欺騙別人的方法，不僅播散貪心的種子，也造成鄰居之間的不和──這是上帝所憎惡的（11：1；利19：35~36）。根本的原因就是想偉大及想富有的驕傲與自私的慾望在作怪；愚妄的人想盡方法要達到這個目的，即使他們這樣做會妨礙鄰居也在所不惜。他是殘忍的，也是沒有原則的。他會將五穀屯積居奇，促使物價上揚，但是他的行為會使窮人咒詛他（11：26）。這樣的惡行和驕傲會為他帶來羞辱，並使他跌倒（11：2；16：18），也會使他所有的希望與盼望煙消雲散。他利用腐敗的手段所追逐及獲得的財富，在審判的時候，對他一無好處，因為上帝的烈怒會澆灌在他的身上。
就像前所描述的一樣，太多惡人的出現會使他們的城市崩潰，也會使他們的社會分裂。如果這個城市裡（例如像所多瑪和蛾摩拉：創18：32）有夠多的義人，就會有相反的情形；他們對領袖所作的智慧建議會帶來安全（11：14；24：6；比較王上12：1~14，即指：愚蠢的建議會帶來王國的分裂）。聰明人的誠實與謹慎的行為使合城喜樂及被高舉（11：10~11）。以誠實的價格出賣糧食的人必受人民的祝福（11：26）。他會成功、因為智慧與正直會引導他，以及他的公義會拯救他脫離死亡（11：4）。
聰明人不像愚妄的人，因為他努力維持和睦；他們不散播流言，或揭人隱私，為別人帶來麻煩和傷害，相反的，他們行事非常謹慎（11：12~13；19：11）。這樣的人是仁慈的，滿有恩典，因而能保持他的榮譽，就像那位恩德的婦女一樣。不過，一個殘忍的人可以保持他的財富，但是他絕對無法保持他的榮譽，因為他一定會跌倒（11：16、28）。義人對上帝的喜悅，並且「發旺如青葉」（11：28）。他們領受上帝的尊榮和恩惠，因為他們的道路是無可批評的，要比財富更為重要（11：16、27）。即使如此，義人還是要因他們的罪惡本性，受到上帝的審判，及上帝的報復，但是惡人會受到上帝烈怒的更大報復（11：31；彼前4：17~19）。
義人的智慧和悟性會結出果子，因為他們就像生命樹一樣（詩1：3）。由於他們為上帝作的見證，及為別人作的榜樣，別人都會看到他們的興旺和真生命，以及他們也會讓別人分享這棵生命樹──祇有上帝才能賜給的──上所結的果子。真正聰明的人就是那些在心中想得人的人，因為那就是上帝想要他們做的事（「得人如得魚一樣」；太4：19；5：15~17）。他們從上帝那裡得到的智慧告訴他們：他們有為上帝得人的責任。此外，智慧連同慈愛報導他們，如何用最好的方法帶領別人到主的面前，好使他們也能認識及體驗上帝的慈愛，及上帝所賜的智慧（雅5：20；結3：17~21；但12：3）。
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Overview
Solomon's proverbs continue with stressing the importance of honesty in business dealings, for that pleases the Lord. "A false balance" is a way to cheat others, springing out of greed and a disregard for one's neighbours — this is an abomination to the Lord (11:1; Lev. 19:35-36). The root cause is pride and a selfish desire to be great and rich, which the fool will try to attain by any means, even though it harms his neighbour. He is ruthless and unprincipled. He will withhold grain to cause the prices to rise, but this will cause the poor to curse him (11:26). Such perversity and pride will bring him shame and cause his fall (11:2; 16:18), as well as the destruction of all his hopes and expectations. The riches he lusted after and attained through corrupt means will profit him nothing on judgment day, when God's wrath will be poured out upon him.
The presence of too many wicked men, such as the one described above, will bring the downfall of their city and break apart the society. The opposite is true if there are enough righteous men within the city (e.g. Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 18:32); their wise counsel to the leader will bring safety (11:14; 24:6; compare 1 Kings 12:1-14, where foolish counsel brought about the division of the kingdom). Wise men deal honestly and prudently and cause the city to rejoice and be exalted (11:10-11). The people will bless the man who sells his grain at an honest price (11:26). He will be successful, since wisdom and integrity will guide him, and his righteousness will deliver him from death (11:4).
Unlike the foolish, the wise work to maintain peace; they do not gossip or reveal secrets which can stir up trouble and bring hurt to a person, but instead they use discretion. They can be trusted as faithful confidantes to "conceal a matter" (11:12-13; 19:11). Such a person is merciful and full of grace and therefore retains his honour, as does the "gracious woman". The one, however, who is cruel and ruthless may retain riches but will never retain honour, and he is destined to fall (11:16, 28). The righteous please God and "flourish like foliage" (11:28). They receive honour and divine favour because of their blameless ways, which are far more important than riches (11:16, 27). Even so, the righteous will be judged and suffer the recompense because of their sinful nature, but how much more will the wicked sinner be recompensed with divine wrath (11:31; 1 Pet. 4:17-19).
The wisdom and understanding of the righteous yields fruit, for they are like a tree of life (Ps. 1:3). By their witness for God and their example to others, who see them flourish and have true life, they bring other souls to share in this tree of life that only God can give. The truly wise are those who purpose in their heart to win souls, for that is what the Lord desires His people to do (be "fishers of men", Matt. 4:19; Eph. 5:15-17). Their divinely given wisdom teaches them their responsibility to win souls. Also, wisdom, coupled with love, instructs them in the best way to bring others to the Lord, that they too may know and experience the Lord and the wisdom He gives (James 5:20; Ezek. 3:17-21; Dan. 12:3).
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