Proverbs 10:18-28

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19 1When words are many, transgression is not lacking, 2but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is 3choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for 4lack of sense.
22 5The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.[a]
23 Doing wrong is 6like a joke to a fool, but 7wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24 8What the wicked dreads 9will come upon him, but 10the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When 11the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but 12the 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 13The fear of the LORD prolongs life, 14but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 15The hope of the righteous brings joy, 16but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

Proverbs 10:18-28 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 16

  • 1. [Matthew 12:36, 37]
  • 2. Proverbs 17:27; [James 3:2]
  • 3. Proverbs 8:19; Proverbs 16:16
  • 4. [Hosea 4:6]
  • 5. [Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18]
  • 6. Proverbs 2:14; Proverbs 15:21
  • 7. [Proverbs 8:30]
  • 8. Isaiah 66:4; Hebrews 10:27; [Job 15:21]
  • 9. Job 3:25
  • 10. Psalms 145:19; Matthew 5:6; 1 John 5:14, 15
  • 11. [Job 21:18; Psalms 58:9]; See Matthew 7:26, 27
  • 12. Proverbs 12:3; Psalms 15:5; [Matthew 7:24, 25]
  • 13. See Proverbs 3:2
  • 14. See Job 15:32, 33
  • 15. [Luke 21:28]
  • 16. See Job 8:13

Footnotes 1

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