Proverbs 11:28
New International Version
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

New Living Translation
Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

English Standard Version
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Berean Standard Bible
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

King James Bible
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

New King James Version
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

New American Standard Bible
One who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

NASB 1995
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

NASB 1977
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

Amplified Bible
He who leans on and trusts in and is confident in his riches will fall, But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.

Christian Standard Bible
Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

American Standard Version
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

Contemporary English Version
Trust in your wealth, and you will be a failure, but God's people will prosper like healthy plants.

English Revised Version
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever trusts his riches will fall, but righteous people will flourish like a green leaf.

Good News Translation
Those who depend on their wealth will fall like the leaves of autumn, but the righteous will prosper like the leaves of summer.

International Standard Version
The person who trusts in his wealth will fall, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

Majority Standard Bible
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

NET Bible
The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

New Heart English Bible
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

World English Bible
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whoever is confident in his wealth falls, "" And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

Smith's Literal Translation
He trusting in his riches himself shall fall: and the just shall flourish as the foliage.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall. But the just shall spring up like a green leaf.

New American Bible
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but like green leaves the just will flourish.

New Revised Standard Version
Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who trusts in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish like green leaves.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He that trusts upon his wealth will fall, and the righteous ones will bud like leaves.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as foliage.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Dishonest Scales
27He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it. 28He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage. 29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 17:5-8
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD. / He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. / But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. ...

Psalm 52:7-8
“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.” / But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:15-21
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...

Psalm 49:6-7
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. / No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

Mark 10:23-25
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” / And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! / It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

James 1:10-11
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. / For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Psalm 62:10
Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Job 31:24-28
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, / if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much, / if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, ...

Matthew 19:23-24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. / Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Psalm 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?


Treasury of Scripture

He that trusts in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

that

Proverbs 10:15
The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Deuteronomy 8:12-14
Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; …

Job 31:24,25
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; …

but

Psalm 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 52:8
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

Psalm 92:12-14
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon…

Jump to Previous
Branch Confident Faith Fall Falleth Flourish Foliage Full Green Growth Leaf Puts Riches Righteous Thrive Trusteth Trusts Upright Wealth Wither
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Branch Confident Faith Fall Falleth Flourish Foliage Full Green Growth Leaf Puts Riches Righteous Thrive Trusteth Trusts Upright Wealth Wither
Proverbs 11
1. On Deception














He who trusts in his riches will fall
This phrase warns against placing confidence in material wealth. Biblically, riches are often seen as temporary and unreliable (Proverbs 23:5). The historical context of ancient Israel shows that wealth was often associated with power and security, yet the prophets frequently warned against relying on riches instead of God (Jeremiah 9:23-24). The fall of those who trust in wealth is a recurring theme, as seen in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21, where Jesus illustrates the futility of storing up earthly treasures without being "rich toward God." This phrase also echoes the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21, where He advises storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The fall here can be understood as both a moral and spiritual decline, as well as potential financial ruin.

but the righteous will thrive like foliage
In contrast to those who trust in riches, the righteous are depicted as thriving. The imagery of foliage suggests growth, vitality, and prosperity. This metaphor is consistent with biblical themes where righteousness leads to life and flourishing (Psalm 1:3). The righteous are those who live in accordance with God's will, and their prosperity is not merely material but encompasses spiritual well-being and eternal life. The cultural context of the time valued agricultural imagery, as it was a primary source of sustenance and wealth. This thriving is not just a promise of physical abundance but also reflects spiritual health and stability, as seen in John 15:5, where Jesus describes Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches. The righteous, like healthy foliage, are deeply rooted in their faith and relationship with God, leading to a life that bears fruit.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His insights into human behavior and godly living are captured in the book of Proverbs.

2. The Righteous
This term refers to those who live in accordance with God's laws and principles. In the context of Proverbs, the righteous are often contrasted with the wicked or foolish.

3. Riches
In this verse, riches symbolize material wealth and the false security it can provide. The verse warns against placing trust in wealth rather than in God.

4. Foliage
Used metaphorically to describe the flourishing and thriving of the righteous, similar to how healthy plants grow and prosper.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Trusting in Wealth
Wealth is temporary and unreliable. Trusting in it leads to downfall because it cannot provide true security or salvation.

The Blessing of Righteousness
Living righteously aligns us with God's will and leads to spiritual prosperity and growth, much like healthy foliage.

True Security in God
Our ultimate trust should be in God, who is unchanging and faithful, rather than in material possessions.

The Call to Generosity
Instead of hoarding wealth, we are called to use our resources to bless others and further God's kingdom.

Eternal Perspective
Keeping an eternal perspective helps us prioritize spiritual growth over material accumulation.(28) He that trusteth in his riches shall fall.--Because of their uncertainty, and because they prevent his trusting in the living God (1Timothy 6:17).

Verse 28. - There are many expressions in this and the following verses which recall Psalm 1. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall (Proverbs 10:2; Psalm 49:6, 7; Psalm 52:7; Ecclus. 5:8). Wealth is of all things the most uncertain, and leads the heart astray from God (1 Timothy 6:17). As a branch; "as a leaf" (Psalm 1:8; Isaiah 34:4). The righteous grow in grace and spiritual beauty, and bring forth the fruit of good works. Septuagint, "He who layeth hold on what is righteous [or, 'helpeth the righteous'] shall spring up (ἀνατελεῖ)."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who trusts
בּוֹטֵ֣חַ (bō·w·ṭê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 982: To trust, be confident, sure

in his riches
בְּ֭עָשְׁרוֹ (bə·‘ā·šə·rōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6239: Wealth

will fall,
יִפֹּ֑ל (yip·pōl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

but the righteous
צַדִּיקִ֥ים (ṣad·dî·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

will thrive
יִפְרָֽחוּ׃ (yip̄·rā·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6524: To break forth as a, bud, bloom, to spread, to fly, to flourish

like foliage.
וְ֝כֶעָלֶ֗ה (wə·ḵe·‘ā·leh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5929: A leaf, foliage


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 11:27
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