Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 11:30

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls." — Proverbs 11:30 (ASV)

Wins souls - Better, a wise man wins souls. He who is wise draws the souls of people to himself, just as the fruit of the righteous is to all around him a tree of life, bearing new fruits of healing evermore. The phrase is elsewhere translated as taketh the life (1 Kings 19:4; Psalms 31:13). The wise man is the true conqueror. For the Christian meaning given to these words, see the New Testament reference in the margin.