Having described the firm and faithful defence of the righteous man (v.
10), Solomon here shows what is the false and deceitful defence of the
rich man, that has his portion and treasure in the things of this
world, and sets his heart upon them. His wealth is as much his
confidence, and he expects as much from it, as a godly man from his
God. See, 1. How he supports himself. He makes his wealth his city,
where he dwells, where he rules, with a great deal of self-complacency,
as if he had a whole city under his command. It is his strong city, in
which he intrenches himself, and then sets danger at defiance, as if
nothing could hurt him. His scales are his pride; his wealth is his
wall in which he encloses himself, and he thinks it a high wall, which
cannot be scaled or got over, Job xxxi. 24; Rev. xviii. 7. 2. How
herein he cheats himself. It is a strong city, and a high wall, but it
is so only in his own conceit; it will not prove to be really so, but
like the house built on the sand, which will fail the builder when he
most needs it.