Proverbs 10:11-21

11 1The mouth of the righteous is 2a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked 3conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but 4love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but 5a rod is for the back of him who 6lacks sense.
14 The wise 7lay up knowledge, but 8the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15 9A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16 The wage of the righteous leads 10to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on 11the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19 12When words are many, transgression is not lacking, 13but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is 14choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for 15lack of sense.

Proverbs 10:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Psalms 37:30
  • 2. Proverbs 13:14; Psalms 36:9
  • 3. [See ver. 6 above]
  • 4. 1 Peter 4:8; [James 5:20]
  • 5. Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3
  • 6. See Proverbs 6:32
  • 7. [ver. 8; Proverbs 12:23]
  • 8. Proverbs 18:7
  • 9. Proverbs 18:11; [Psalms 52:7; Mark 10:24, 25]
  • 10. Proverbs 11:19; Proverbs 19:23
  • 11. [Proverbs 6:23]
  • 12. [Matthew 12:36, 37]
  • 13. Proverbs 17:27; [James 3:2]
  • 14. Proverbs 8:19; Proverbs 16:16
  • 15. [Hosea 4:6]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.