Proverbes 10

1 Proverbes de Salomon. Un fils sage fait la joie d'un père, Et un fils insensé le chagrin de sa mère.

2 Les trésors de la méchanceté ne profitent pas, Mais la justice délivre de la mort.

3 L'Eternel ne laisse pas le juste souffrir de la faim, Mais il repousse l'avidité des méchants.

4 Celui qui agit d'une main lâche s'appauvrit, Mais la main des diligents enrichit.

5 Celui qui amasse pendant l'été est un fils prudent, Celui qui dort pendant la moisson est un fils qui fait honte.

6 Il y a des bénédictions sur la tête du juste, Mais la violence couvre la bouche des méchants.

7 La mémoire du juste est en bénédiction, Mais le nom des méchants tombe en pourriture.

8 Celui qui est sage de coeur reçoit les préceptes, Mais celui qui est insensé des lèvres court à sa perte.

9 Celui qui marche dans l'intégrité marche avec assurance, Mais celui qui prend des voies tortueuses sera découvert.

10 Celui qui cligne des yeux est une cause de chagrin, Et celui qui est insensé des lèvres court à sa perte.

11 La bouche du juste est une source de vie, Mais la violence couvre la bouche des méchants.

12 La haine excite des querelles, Mais l'amour couvre toutes les fautes.

13 Sur les lèvres de l'homme intelligent se trouve la sagesse, Mais la verge est pour le dos de celui qui est dépourvu de sens.

14 Les sages tiennent la science en réserve, Mais la bouche de l'insensé est une ruine prochaine.

15 La fortune est pour le riche une ville forte; La ruine des misérables, c'est leur pauvreté.

16 L'oeuvre du juste est pour la vie, Le gain du méchant est pour le péché.

17 Celui qui se souvient de la correction prend le chemin de la vie, Mais celui qui oublie la réprimande s'égare.

18 Celui qui dissimule la haine a des lèvres menteuses, Et celui qui répand la calomnie est un insensé.

19 Celui qui parle beaucoup ne manque pas de pécher, Mais celui qui retient ses lèvres est un homme prudent.

20 La langue du juste est un argent de choix; Le coeur des méchants est peu de chose.

21 Les lèvres du juste dirigent beaucoup d'hommes, Et les insensés meurent par défaut de raison.

22 C'est la bénédiction de l'Eternel qui enrichit, Et il ne la fait suivre d'aucun chagrin.

23 Commettre le crime paraît un jeu à l'insensé, Mais la sagesse appartient à l'homme intelligent.

24 Ce que redoute le méchant, c'est ce qui lui arrive; Et ce que désirent les justes leur est accordé.

25 Comme passe le tourbillon, ainsi disparaît le méchant; Mais le juste a des fondements éternels.

26 Ce que le vinaigre est aux dents et la fumée aux yeux, Tel est le paresseux pour celui qui l'envoie.

27 La crainte de l'Eternel augmente les jours, Mais les années des méchants sont abrégées.

28 L'attente des justes n'est que joie, Mais l'espérance des méchants périra.

29 La voie de l'Eternel est un rempart pour l'intégrité, Mais elle est une ruine pour ceux qui font le mal.

30 Le juste ne chancellera jamais, Mais les méchants n'habiteront pas le pays.

31 La bouche du juste produit la sagesse, Mais la langue perverse sera retranchée.

32 Les lèvres du juste connaissent la grâce, Et la bouche des méchants la perversité.

Proverbes 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Through the whole of the Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat beyond the first sense the passage may imply, and this we shall find to be Christ. He is the Wisdom so often spoken of in this book.

Verse 1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and ( proverbs 10:2-3 ) the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life. Verse 4 . Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works. Verse 5 . Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Verse 6 . Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings. Verse 7 . Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference. Verse 8 . The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice. Verse 9 . Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed. Verse 10 . Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity. Verse 11 . The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others. Verse 12 . Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved. Verse 13 . Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves. Verse 14 . Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom. Verse 15 . This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith. Verse 16 . Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life. Verse 17 . The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still. Verse 18 . He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better. Verse 19 . Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise ( proverbs 10:20-21 ) the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought. Verse 22 . That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion. Verse 23 . Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin. Verse 24 . The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted. Verse 25 . The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone. Verse 26 . As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes ( proverbs 10:27-28 ) is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other. Verse 29 . The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight. Verse 30 . The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die ( proverbs 10:31-32 ) wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Chapter Summary

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.