Proverbs 10

1 A wise son makes father glad: but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

2 Treasures shall not profit the lawless: but righteousness shall deliver from death.

3 The Lord will not famish a righteous soul: but he will overthrow the life of the ungodly.

4 Poverty brings a man low: but the hands of the vigorous make rich. A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant.

5 A wise son is saved from heat: but a lawless son is blighted of the winds in harvest.

6 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but untimely grief shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.

7 The memory of the just is praised; but the name of the ungodly is extinguished.

8 A wise man in heart will receive commandments; but he that is unguarded in his lips shall be overthrown in his perverseness.

9 He that walks simply, walks confidently; but he that perverts his ways shall be known.

10 He that winks with his eyes deceitfully, procures griefs for men; but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker.

11 a fountain of life in the hand of a righteous man; but destruction shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.

12 Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife.

13 He that brings forth wisdom from his lips smites the fool with a rod.

14 The wise will hide discretion; but the mouth of the hasty draws near to ruin.

15 The wealth of rich men is a strong city; but poverty is the ruin of the ungodly.

16 The works of the righteous produce life; but the fruits of the ungodly sins.

17 Instruction keeps the right ways of life; but instruction unchastened goes astray.

18 Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish.

19 By a multitude of words thou shalt not escape sin; but if thou refrain thy lips thou wilt be prudent.

20 The tongue of the just is tried silver; but the heart of the ungodly shall fail.

21 The lips of the righteous know sublime : but the foolish die in want.

22 The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous; it enriches , and grief of heart shall not be added to .

23 A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for a man.

24 The ungodly is engulphed in destruction; but the desire of the righteous is acceptable.

25 When the storm passes by, the ungodly vanishes away; but the righteous turns aside and escapes for ever.

26 As a sour grape is hurtful to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so iniquity hurts those that practise it.

27 The fear of the Lord adds of days: but the years of the ungodly shall be shortened.

28 Joy rests long with the righteous: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

29 The fear of the Lord is a strong hold of the saints: but ruin to them that work wickedness.

30 The righteous shall never fail: but the ungodly shall not dwell in the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish.

32 The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse.

Proverbs 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit. heartless man, Hebraism.
• [b]. Gr. laughter.

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.