John Gill Commentary Proverbs 11:28

"He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf." — Proverbs 11:28 (ASV)

He that trusts in his riches shall fall As leaves in autumn, which are withered and dry. To trust in riches is to trust in uncertain things; things not to be depended on, being here today and gone tomorrow; it is like leaning upon a broken staff, which giving way, the person falls: and so the fall of Babylon will be, while she is trusting in and boasting of her riches and grandeur, (Revelation 18:7Revelation 18:8) ;

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch ; that abides in the tree, is alive and green, full of leaves, and laden with fruit: so the righteous are as branches in Christ, and receive life and nourishment from him, and abide in him; and bring forth fruit and flourish, like palm trees and cedars, in the house of the Lord, and grow in every grace, and in the knowledge of Christ; see (Jeremiah 17:7Jeremiah 17:8) .