Proverbs 18:11
New International Version
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

New Living Translation
The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.

English Standard Version
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.

Berean Standard Bible
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.

King James Bible
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

New King James Version
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.

New American Standard Bible
A rich person’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.

NASB 1995
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.

NASB 1977
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.

Legacy Standard Bible
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own delusion.

Amplified Bible
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit.

Christian Standard Bible
The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.

American Standard Version
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.

Contemporary English Version
the rich think their money is a wall of protection.

English Revised Version
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own imagination.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A rich person's wealth is his strong city and is like a high wall in his imagination.

Good News Translation
Rich people, however, imagine that their wealth protects them like high, strong walls around a city.

International Standard Version
The wealth of a rich person is his fortified city; in his own imagination, it is like a high wall.

Majority Standard Bible
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.

NET Bible
The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination.

New Heart English Bible
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

Webster's Bible Translation
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.

World English Bible
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, "" And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

Young's Literal Translation
The wealth of the rich is the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

Smith's Literal Translation
The rich one's wealth his strong city, and as a wall lifted up in his imagination.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.

New American Bible
The wealth of the rich is their strong city; they fancy it a high wall.

New Revised Standard Version
The wealth of the rich is their strong city; in their imagination it is like a high wall.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The rich man's wealth is his strong city; and his dwelling place is fenced by a strong wall.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Honor and wealth are the city of his strength and his dwelling is strengthened by a city wall.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own conceit.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination. 12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.…

Cross References
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.

1 Timothy 6:17
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.

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?’ ...

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 5:1-3
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

Revelation 3:17
You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

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.

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.”

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
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? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

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.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 28:4-5
By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries. / By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it.

Isaiah 2:7-8
Their land is full of silver and gold, with no limit to their treasures; their land is full of horses, with no limit to their chariots. / Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.


Treasury of Scripture

The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

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

Proverbs 11:4
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Deuteronomy 32:31
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

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Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














The wealth of the rich man
The Hebrew word for "wealth" here is "hôn," which signifies not just material riches but also abundance and sufficiency. In the ancient Near Eastern context, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing and favor. However, this verse begins to challenge that notion by suggesting that wealth can become a false sense of security. The "rich man" is a figure representing those who place their trust in material possessions rather than in God. This phrase sets the stage for a deeper exploration of where true security lies.

is his fortified city
The imagery of a "fortified city" evokes a place of safety and protection. In ancient times, cities with strong walls were considered impregnable and provided a sense of security against enemies. The Hebrew word "migdāl" refers to a tower or fortress, emphasizing strength and defense. However, the verse implies that the rich man's reliance on wealth as his "fortified city" is misplaced. It suggests that while wealth can provide temporary security, it is ultimately vulnerable and cannot protect against all of life's challenges.

it is like a high wall
The "high wall" symbolizes an imposing barrier that seems to offer protection. The Hebrew word "gābōah" means high or exalted, indicating something that appears strong and insurmountable. In the context of this proverb, the high wall represents the illusion of invulnerability that wealth can create. It serves as a metaphor for the false confidence that riches can instill in a person, leading them to believe they are safe from harm or misfortune.

in his imagination
The Hebrew word "maskîl" is translated here as "imagination," but it can also mean understanding or insight. This suggests that the rich man's perception of his wealth as a high wall is a construct of his own mind. It highlights the deceptive nature of relying on material wealth for security. The verse challenges the reader to consider the difference between perceived and actual security, urging a reliance on God rather than on the fleeting and uncertain nature of riches.

Verse 11. - In contrast with the Divine tower of safety in the preceding verse is here brought forward the earthly refuge of the worldly man. The rich man's wealth is his strong city. The clause is repeated from Proverbs 10:15, but with quite a different conclusion. And as an high wall in his own conceit. The rich man imagines his wealth to be, as it were, an unassailable defence, to preserve him safe amid all the storms of life. בְּמַשְׂכִּתו (bemaskitho), rendered "in his own conceit," is, as Venetian has, ἐν φαντασίᾳ αὐτοῦ, "in his imagination," maskith being "an image or picture," as in Leviticus 26:1; Ezekiel 8:12; but see on Proverbs 25:11. Aben Ezra brings out the opposition between the secure and stable trust of the righteous in the Lord's protection, and the confidence of the rich worldling in his possessions, which is only imaginary and delusive. Vulgate, Et quasi murus validus circumdans eum, "Like a strong wall surrounding him;" Septuagint, "And its glory (δόξα) greatly overshadows him;" i.e. the pomp and splendour of his wealth are his protection, or merely paint him like a picture, having no real substance. The commentators explain the word ἐπισκιάζει in both senses.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A rich
עָ֭שִׁיר (‘ā·šîr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6223: Rich

man’s wealth
ה֣וֹן (hō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1952: Wealth, sufficiency

is his fortified
עֻזּ֑וֹ (‘uz·zōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

city;
קִרְיַ֣ת (qir·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7151: A town, city

it is like a high
נִ֝שְׂגָּבָ֗ה (niś·gā·ḇāh)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7682: To be, lofty, inaccessible, safe, strong

wall
וּכְחוֹמָ֥ה (ū·ḵə·ḥō·w·māh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

in his imagination.
בְּמַשְׂכִּיתֽוֹ׃ (bə·maś·kî·ṯōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4906: A showpiece, figure, imagination


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 18:10
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