John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
Proverbs 11:5
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way,.... Or "make [it] plain" f; that is, the righteousness of those who are perfect in Christ, complete in him, perfectly justified by his righteousness; that righteousness makes their way plain; it is the direct way, the highway, the pathway to eternal life and happiness; see
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness; or, "in his wickedness" g: in his own wicked way, which he has chosen and delights to walk in; he shall stumble therein, and fall into ruin and destruction, into hell and damnation: or by means or because of it he will fall; his wickedness will be the cause of his fall; as it will be the cause of the fall of Babylon, Revelation 18:2.
f תישר "rectam facit", Cocceius; "complanat viam ejus", Schultens. g ברשעתו "in impietate sua", Tigurine version, Montanus, Baynus, Michaelis; "improbitate sua", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "in injustitia sua", Cocceius; "in improbitate sua turbulenta", Schultens.