Proverbs 10

1 The proverbs of Shlomo: A wise son is a joy to his father, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

2 No good comes from ill-gotten wealth, but righteousness rescues from death.

3 ADONAI does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 Idle hands bring poverty; diligent hands bring wealth.

5 A sensible person gathers in summer, but he who sleeps during harvest is an embarrassment.

6 Blessings are for the head of the righteous, but the speech of the wicked is a cover for violence.

7 The memory of the righteous will be for a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot.

8 Wise-hearted people take orders, but a babbling fool will have trouble.

9 He who walks purely walks securely, but he who walks in crooked ways will be found out.

10 He who winks his eye [instead of rebuking] causes pain, yet a babbling fool will have trouble.

11 The speech of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the speech of the wicked is a cover for violence.

12 Hate stirs up disputes, but love covers all kinds of transgressions.

13 On the lips of the intelligent is found wisdom, but a stick is in store for the back of a fool.

14 Wise people hide their knowledge, but when a fool speaks, ruin is imminent.

15 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

16 The activity of the righteous is for life; the income of the wicked is for sin.

17 He who observes discipline is on the way to life; but he who ignores correction is making a mistake.

18 He who covers up hate has lips that lie, and anyone who slanders is a fool.

19 When words are many, sin is not lacking; so he who controls his speech is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is like pure silver, but the mind of the wicked is worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The blessing of ADONAI is what makes people rich, and he doesn't mix sorrow with it.

23 To a fool, vileness is like a game, as is wisdom to a person of discernment.

24 What a fool dreads will overtake him, but the righteous will be given his desire.

25 When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone; but the righteous are firmly established forever.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes is a lazy person to his employer.

27 The fear of ADONAI adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 What the righteous hope for will end in joy; what the wicked expect will come to nothing.

29 The way of ADONAI is a stronghold to the upright but ruin to those who do evil.

30 The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is wanted, but the mouth of the wicked [knows] deceit.

Proverbs 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Through the whole of the Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat beyond the first sense the passage may imply, and this we shall find to be Christ. He is the Wisdom so often spoken of in this book.

Verse 1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and ( proverbs 10:2-3 ) the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life. Verse 4 . Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works. Verse 5 . Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Verse 6 . Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings. Verse 7 . Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference. Verse 8 . The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice. Verse 9 . Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed. Verse 10 . Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity. Verse 11 . The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others. Verse 12 . Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved. Verse 13 . Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves. Verse 14 . Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom. Verse 15 . This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith. Verse 16 . Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life. Verse 17 . The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still. Verse 18 . He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better. Verse 19 . Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise ( proverbs 10:20-21 ) the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought. Verse 22 . That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion. Verse 23 . Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin. Verse 24 . The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted. Verse 25 . The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone. Verse 26 . As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes ( proverbs 10:27-28 ) is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other. Verse 29 . The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight. Verse 30 . The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die ( proverbs 10:31-32 ) wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 10

From this chapter to the "twenty fifth" are various proverbial sentences, without any very apparent connection or coherence with each other; describing righteous and wicked men; setting forth their different temper, conduct, and actions, and the fruits and effects of them. It should be observed, that frequently in the preceding chapters two persons are represented as women; one goes by the name of "Wisdom", the other is called the "foolish" woman and a "harlot"; the former is clearly to be understood of Christ; and the latter, being opposed to him, must be antichrist, the whore of Rome, and mother of harlots: now in the following part of this book two sorts of persons are spoken of; the one as wise, righteous, good and the other as foolish, wicked, &c. who are no other than the followers of Christ and antichrist; which observation is a key to the whole book.