Chapter 11

Chapter 11 is mostly about integrity.

This is interesting. We live in a very different world today from that inhabited by Solomon. Technologically speaking the life of many humans is unrecognizable. Economic life is radically different. Humanity faces vastly different challenges now to what it faced in Solomon’s time.

Despite all that, integrity is valued just as much as it always was (but encountered every bit as rarely as always, which is perhaps why it was valued).

Even more strikingly, though, integrity is still largely similar – just read the proverbs in question. Most of them are quite applicable even now.

The word “integrity” literally means “the state of being in one piece”. In this context we are saying that one is in fact the same person no matter which aspect of life is active at a given time.

A few examples of what integrity does for you:

• v3: Keeps you on track.
• v5: Makes for smooth traveling.
• v13: Prevents you violating a confidence.

Integrity remains important today. That is why we need to examine ourselves and ask ourselves the simple yet cutting question – “Do I have integrity?”