The Meaning of Proverbs 11:5 Explained

Proverbs 11:5

KJV: The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

YLT: The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.

Darby: The righteousness of the perfect maketh plain his way; but the wicked falleth by his own wickedness.

ASV: The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The righteousness  of the perfect  shall direct  his way:  but the wicked  shall fall  by his own wickedness. 

What does Proverbs 11:5 Mean?

Study Notes

perfect
.
The word implies whole-heartedness for God, single-mindedness, sincerity -- not sinless perfection.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 11

1  On Deception

What do the individual words in Proverbs 11:5 mean?

The righteousness of the blameless will direct aright his way but by his own wickedness will fall the wicked
צִדְקַ֣ת תָּ֭מִים תְּיַשֵּׁ֣ר דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְרִשְׁעָת֗וֹ יִפֹּ֥ל רָשָֽׁע

צִדְקַ֣ת  The  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
תָּ֭מִים  of  the  blameless 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תָּמִים  
Sense: complete, whole, entire, sound.
תְּיַשֵּׁ֣ר  will  direct  aright 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁר 
Sense: to be right, be straight, be level, be upright, be just, be lawful, be smooth.
דַּרְכּ֑וֹ  his  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וּ֝בְרִשְׁעָת֗וֹ  but  by  his  own  wickedness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רִשְׁעָה  
Sense: wickedness, guilt.
יִפֹּ֥ל  will  fall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
רָשָֽׁע  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.