Proverbs 10:17-27

17 Whoever heeds instruction is on 1the 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 2When words are many, transgression is not lacking, 3but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is 4choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for 5lack of sense.
22 6The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.[a]
23 Doing wrong is 7like a joke to a fool, but 8wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24 9What the wicked dreads 10will come upon him, but 11the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When 12the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but 13the righteous is established forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 14The fear of the LORD prolongs life, 15but the years of the wicked will be short.

Proverbs 10:17-27 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. [Proverbs 6:23]
  • 2. [Matthew 12:36, 37]
  • 3. Proverbs 17:27; [James 3:2]
  • 4. Proverbs 8:19; Proverbs 16:16
  • 5. [Hosea 4:6]
  • 6. [Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18]
  • 7. Proverbs 2:14; Proverbs 15:21
  • 8. [Proverbs 8:30]
  • 9. Isaiah 66:4; Hebrews 10:27; [Job 15:21]
  • 10. Job 3:25
  • 11. Psalms 145:19; Matthew 5:6; 1 John 5:14, 15
  • 12. [Job 21:18; Psalms 58:9]; See Matthew 7:26, 27
  • 13. Proverbs 12:3; Psalms 15:5; [Matthew 7:24, 25]
  • 14. See Proverbs 3:2
  • 15. See Job 15:32, 33

Footnotes 1

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