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

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin trusteth

See Scofield Note: "Ps 2:12".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

28. (Compare Pr 10:15; Ps 49:6; 1Ti 6:17).

righteous . branch-(Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:28. The true believer is a branch of the living Vine. When those that take root in the world wither, those who are grafted into Christ shall be fruitful. 29. He that brings trouble upon himself and his family, by carelessness, or by wickedness, shall be unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is unable to hold the wind, or to satisfy himself with it. 30. The righteous are as trees of life; and their influence upon earth, like the fruits of that tree, support and nourish the spiritual life in many. 31. Even the righteous, when they offend on earth, shall meet with sharp corrections; much more will the wicked meet the due reward of their sins. Let us then seek those blessings which our Surety purchased by his sufferings and death; let us seek to copy his example, and to keep his commandments.

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Verse 28

Observe, 1. Our riches will fail us when we are in the greatest need: He that trusts in them, as if they would secure him the favour of God and be his protection and portion, shall fall, as a man who lays his weight on a broken reed, which will not only disappoint him, but run into his hand and pierce him. 2. Our righteousness will stand us in stead when our riches fail us: The righteous shall then flourish as a branch, the branch of righteousness, like a tree whose leaf shall not wither, Ps. 1:3. Even in death, when riches fail men, the bones of the righteous shall flourish as a herb, Isa. 66:14. When those that take root in the world wither those that are grafted into Christ and partake of his root and fatness shall be fruitful and flourishing.