Proverbs 10:12-22

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but 1love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but 2a rod is for the back of him who 3lacks sense.
14 The wise 4lay up knowledge, but 5the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15 6A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16 The wage of the righteous leads 7to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on 8the 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 9When words are many, transgression is not lacking, 10but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is 11choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for 12lack of sense.
22 13The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.[a]

Proverbs 10:12-22 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 13

  • 1. 1 Peter 4:8; [James 5:20]
  • 2. Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3
  • 3. See Proverbs 6:32
  • 4. [ver. 8; Proverbs 12:23]
  • 5. Proverbs 18:7
  • 6. Proverbs 18:11; [Psalms 52:7; Mark 10:24, 25]
  • 7. Proverbs 11:19; Proverbs 19:23
  • 8. [Proverbs 6:23]
  • 9. [Matthew 12:36, 37]
  • 10. Proverbs 17:27; [James 3:2]
  • 11. Proverbs 8:19; Proverbs 16:16
  • 12. [Hosea 4:6]
  • 13. [Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or and toil adds nothing to it
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.