Proverbs 11:3

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about gaining more and more insights from God:

Proverbs 11:3 (ESV)

The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

This proverb appears in the section where a number of antithetical parallelisms occur. An antithetical parallalism is a Hebrew poetry where the second line contrast the first line. If you read Proverbs chapters’ ten and eleven you will find most of those proverbs are antithetical in nature. Solomon is drawing a contrast between wisdom and folly in these chapters. He wants to inspire the reader to choose, by faith, the right path in life, one directed by wisdom. This proverb is telling us that those who have Godly "integrity" (a completeness) will be guided by that same integrity. In 13:6 we see a similiar verse saying:

Proverbs 13:6 (ESV)

6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

In this verse we read that the "righteousness" of the man with integrity will guide them. The "crooked" are not as fortunate. The "crookedness" leads into the path of destruction; further destruction. When we seek wisdom God gives us more and uses what we have to lead us into light of an even better path. When we refuse wisdom we are left in the dark because we refuse to ponder the way we take:

Proverbs 5:6 (ESV)

she does not ponder the path of life;

her ways wander, and she does not know it.

So, continue to follow integrity (doing what is right) and it will show you more right to follow.