Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 11:5

"The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness." — Proverbs 11:5 (ASV)

Shall direct his way. —Or, make smooth, as Proverbs 3:6. The just man, by his exact performance of all duty both towards God and man, receives more and more light, and therefore continually sees more clearly how to avoid the difficulties that beset his path. The wicked darkens his conscience more and more by the commission of evil, until he stumbles as in the night (John 11:9), and at last falls, and does not rise again.