In the next few verses, Solomon gives to us different examples of the lives of the righteous and the wicked.
"When the wicked dies, his hope [for the future] perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing." Proverbs 11:7, Amplified
The wicked and godless man have nothing going for them on the other side of this life. They may have all their money invested, their portfolios in line, their wills updated; but death brings all that to nought. We all have an eternal future; we either live eternally with God or have a life of eternal separation in Hell. Any hope of expectation that a wicked man has will be cut off from him at his last breath.
"The [uncompromisingly] righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked gets it instead." Proverbs 11:8, Amplified
Trouble comes upon us all, it is just the way that life works. Everyone must go through trials and tribulations. However, the righteous man will be delivered from his troubles. Don't interpret this verse just as it reads. I do not believe that Solomon was trying to convey that the Lord gives our troubles to the wicked. The picture being painted here is that the righteous are delivered but the wicked are not. It is the end that trouble brings that the righteous man is delivered from. For the wicked man, that end will never be taken from him, lest he change his ways.
"With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge and superior discernment shall the righteous be delivered." Proverbs 11:9, Amplified
Gossip and rumors have destroyed many men. "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell." (James 3:6, NKJV) Though the world be set on fire by the tongue of the wicked, there will be deliverance for the righteous man. If the tongue of the wicked man be turned toward the righteous, it is the knowledge that we have in Jesus Christ that shall be our salvation. Without Him, we would never be delivered.
"When it goes well with the [uncompromisingly] righteous the city rejoices, but when the wicked perish there are shouts of joy." Proverbs 11:10, Amplified
King David, in the Psalms, always noted that the wicked seemed to thrive in this world, but the righteous always seemed to get the short end on the stick. What Solomon is saying here is when the righteous man does well or prospers, people are genuinely happy for that man. Though we are a sinful and selfish people, we still enjoy watching other people prosper. There is always happiness when the righteous man prospers. But when the wicked man comes to his end, there will be shouts of joy in the streets. When the wicked dies so does his oppression. I remember watching the news as Sadam Hussein was captured. The people were elated, the toppled his image and pulled down his statue. Though we are a sinful and selfish people, we still enjoy when a wicked man perishes.
"By the blessing of the influence of the upright with God's favor [because of them] the city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked." Proverbs 11:11, Amplified
This spiritual truth can be verified through the reading of the books of history in the Old Testament. The Lord made the nation of Judah prosper when it had a righteous king at the helm, but He came against it when a wicked king was in rule. Just look at our nation of America. The same spiritual principals can be applied. Our politicians were once God fearing men. This nation was once built upon the Bible. But as a nation we are slowly leaving those convictions behind. Mark my words, if we do not go back to our roots, then we will be lead away captive by our own undoing.
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