Proverbs 11:30
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls."
Truth: God's righeousness to us can be used by God to rescue others
This proverb tells us that righteous people should be doing two things in regard to there relationship with others: One, they should be imparting positive fruit, as from a tree. And, two, they should seek to win others (or attract) others to that tree. The first line in this Hebrew poem tells us that righteous people should be producing fruit. And that fruit is a source of “life” for those who partake. This goes right along with Christ telling the disciples they were to be the “salt of the earth.” As righteous people we should be the source of life for a broken and dieing world. The second line tells us that those who “win” souls are wise. The win here is not to win them as to win people to Christ (although that surely is the goal). The word "win" in the NASV is translated differently in the ESV. Note:
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
There are some commentaries who have a problem with the Hebrew word translated in the ESV as "captures." The word is always used in the Old Testament in a violent sense. Yet, When we understand that the righteous is trying to provide words that can take a person off the path of foolishness, sin and death, we can better understand the word choice. This is a war. Note what James says about preventing a person from sinning:
James 5:20
... let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
A person who speaks righteous words will be a tree of life to those who listen and will also, through the violent actions of the Spirit, rescue them from death.
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