Proverbs 10:22-32

22 1The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.[a]
23 Doing wrong is 2like a joke to a fool, but 3wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24 4What the wicked dreads 5will come upon him, but 6the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When 7the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but 8the 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 9The fear of the LORD prolongs life, 10but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 11The hope of the righteous brings joy, 12but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 13The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.
30 14The righteous will never be removed, but 15the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 16The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous 17know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, 18what is perverse.

Proverbs 10:22-32 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 18

  • 1. [Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18]
  • 2. Proverbs 2:14; Proverbs 15:21
  • 3. [Proverbs 8:30]
  • 4. Isaiah 66:4; Hebrews 10:27; [Job 15:21]
  • 5. Job 3:25
  • 6. Psalms 145:19; Matthew 5:6; 1 John 5:14, 15
  • 7. [Job 21:18; Psalms 58:9]; See Matthew 7:26, 27
  • 8. Proverbs 12:3; Psalms 15:5; [Matthew 7:24, 25]
  • 9. See Proverbs 3:2
  • 10. See Job 15:32, 33
  • 11. [Luke 21:28]
  • 12. See Job 8:13
  • 13. [Psalms 25:12; Matthew 22:16; Acts 9:2]
  • 14. ver. 25; Psalms 37:22, 29; Psalms 125:1
  • 15. Proverbs 2:21, 22
  • 16. Psalms 37:30
  • 17. [Ecclesiastes 10:12]
  • 18. Proverbs 2:12

Footnotes 1

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