John Gill 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)

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way
Or "make [it] plain" ^F6 ; that is, the righteousness of those who are perfect in Christ, complete in him, perfectly justified by his righteousness; that righteousness makes their way plain; it is the direct way, the highway, the pathway to eternal life and happiness; see (Proverbs 12:28) ; but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness ;
or, "in his wickedness" ^F7 : in his own wicked way, which he has chosen and delights to walk in; he shall stumble therein, and fall into ruin and destruction, into hell and damnation: or by means or because of it he will fall; his wickedness will be the cause of his fall; as it will be the cause of the fall of Babylon, (Revelation 18:2Revelation 18:5) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F6: (rvyt) "rectam facit", Cocceius; "complanat viam ejus", Schultens.
• F7: (wtevrb) "in impietate sua", Tigurine version, Montanus, Baynus, Michaelis; "improbitate sua", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in injustitia sua", Cocceius; "in improbitate sua turbulenta", Schultens.