Proverbs 11 in the early church
62 passages quote, allude to, or echo Proverbs 11, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 29 · 30 · 31
Proverbs 11:1
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:1 | Miscellanies 2.18.79 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:1 | On Saint Athanasius 1.26 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
| Prov 11:1 | Letters 298, 299 · Basil of Caesarea | echo, low confidence | ca. 357–378 |
| Prov 11:1 | On the Duties of the Clergy 3.9 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:3 | Miscellanies 3.18.107 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 198–203 |
Proverbs 11:4
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:4 | Homilies 12.14 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| Prov 11:4 | Apostolic Constitutions 4.4.2 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
Proverbs 11:5
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:5 | Miscellanies 2.13.59 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:5 | Demonstration 9.1 · Aphrahat | quotation, low confidence | 337-345 |
Proverbs 11:7
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:7 | Miscellanies 2.18.83 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:7 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 189 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Proverbs 11:8
The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:8 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 189 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Proverbs 11:13
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:13 | Miscellanies 2.14.61 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:13 | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:13 | Commentary on Romans 5.2 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Prov 11:13 | Commentary on Romans 7.6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:14 | Miscellanies 2.11.51 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:14 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 189 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:14 | The Conferences 2.4 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Proverbs 11:15
He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:15 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 51.1.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, low confidence | 374-377 |
| Prov 11:15 | The Conferences 1.20 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Proverbs 11:16
A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:16 | Letters 13.5 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 394–413 |
Proverbs 11:17
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:17 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 189 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:17 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 191 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Proverbs 11:18
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:18 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 191 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Proverbs 11:20
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:20 | Letter 148.32 · Jerome | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Prov 11:20 | On Man's Perfection in Righteousness 20 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 415 |
Proverbs 11:21
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:21 | Miscellanies 1.19.95 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:21 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 191 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:22 | The Instructor 3.11.56 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| Prov 11:22 | On Virginity 17 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–371 |
| Prov 11:22 | Apostolic Constitutions 1.8.9 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Prov 11:22 | The Conferences 14.16 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
| Prov 11:22 | On the Governance of God 4.2 · Salvian of Marseilles | quotation, high confidence | ca. 439-451 |
Proverbs 11:24
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:24 | The Instructor 3.6.35 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| Prov 11:24 | Miscellanies 1.19.95 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:24 | Miscellanies 3.6.56 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:24 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 191 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:24 | To the Church 2.50 · Salvian of Marseilles | allusion, high confidence | ca. 435-440 |
Proverbs 11:25
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:25 | Homilies 10.1 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| Prov 11:25 | Apostolic Constitutions 2.35.2 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Prov 11:25 | The Institutes 8.1 · John Cassian | quotation, low confidence | ca. 419–426 |
Proverbs 11:26
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:26 | Miscellanies 2.18.86 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Prov 11:26 | Didascalia 2.34 (Latin) · Anonymous | quotation, medium confidence | first half of the third century |
| Prov 11:26 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 191 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:26 | To Quirinus 3.61 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| Prov 11:26 | Oration 43.34 · Gregory of Nazianzus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Prov 11:26 | Homilies 6.2 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| Prov 11:26 | Apostolic Constitutions 2.34.6 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Prov 11:26 | On Naboth 40 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-390 |
| Prov 11:26 | On the Duties of the Clergy 3.6 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
Proverbs 11:27
He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:27 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 191 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:27 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 24.6.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, medium confidence | 374-377 |
Proverbs 11:29
He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:29 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 159 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:29 | On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.11 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-390 |
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:30 | On Proverbs, fragment 18 · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 200–235 |
| Prov 11:30 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 167 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Prov 11:30 | Fragments on Proverbs, column 191 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Proverbs 11:31
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prov 11:31 | On the Singleness of Clerics 18 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Prov 11:31 | Demonstration 7.16 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Prov 11:31 | Book of Heresies 125.4 · Philastrius of Brescia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380s |
| Prov 11:31 | On the Christian Life 13 · Fastidius | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 411-430 |