Proverbs 10

Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 The ¹proverbs of Solomon. ²A wise son makes a father glad, But ³a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

2 ⁴Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.

3 The LORD ⁵will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He ⁶will reject the craving of the wicked.

4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the ⁷hand of the diligent makes rich.

5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

6 ⁸Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But ⁹the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 The ¹⁰memory of the righteous is blessed, But ¹¹the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The ¹²wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined.

9 He ¹³who walks in integrity walks securely, But ¹⁴he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10 He ¹⁵who winks the eye causes trouble, And ¹⁶a babbling fool will be ruined.

11 The ¹⁷mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But ¹⁸the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, But ¹⁹love covers all transgressions.

13 On ²⁰the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But ²¹a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.

14 Wise men ²²store up knowledge, But with ²³the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

15 The ²⁴rich man's wealth is his fortress *, The ²⁵ruin of the poor is their poverty.

16 The ²⁶wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.

17 He ²⁷is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray.

18 He ²⁸who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.

19 When there are ²⁹many words, transgression is unavoidable *, But ³⁰he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is as ³¹choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21 The ³²lips of the righteous feed many, But fools ³³die for lack of understanding.

22 It is the ³⁴blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.

23 Doing wickedness is like ³⁵sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

24 What ³⁶the wicked fears will come upon him, But the ³⁷desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the ³⁸whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the ³⁹righteous has an everlasting foundation.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the ⁴⁰lazy one to those who send him.

27 The ⁴¹fear of the LORD prolongs life, But the ⁴²years of the wicked will be shortened.

28 The ⁴³hope of the righteous is gladness, But the ⁴⁴expectation of the wicked perishes.

29 The ⁴⁵way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, But ⁴⁶ruin to the workers of iniquity.

30 The ⁴⁷righteous will never * be shaken, But ⁴⁸the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31 The ⁴⁹mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the ⁵⁰perverted tongue will be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous bring forth ⁵¹what is acceptable, But the ⁵²mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

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.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 1:1
• 2. Proverbs 15:20; Proverbs 29:3
• 3. Proverbs 17:25; Proverbs 29:15
• 4. Psalms 49:7; Proverbs 11:4; Proverbs 21:6; Ezekiel 7:19; Luke 12:19, 20
• 5. Psalms 34:9, 10; Psalms 37:25; Proverbs 28:25; Matthew 6:33
• 6. Psalms 112:10; Proverbs 28:9
• 7. Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 21:5
• 8. Proverbs 28:20
• 9. Proverbs 10:11; Obadiah 10
• 10. Psalms 112:6
• 11. Psalms 9:5, 6; Psalms 109:13; Ecclesiastes 8:10
• 12. Proverbs 9:8; Matthew 7:24
• 13. Psalms 23:4; Proverbs 3:23; Proverbs 28:18; Isaiah 33:15, 16
• 14. Proverbs 26:26; Matthew 10:26; 1 Timothy 5:25
• 15. Psalms 35:19; Proverbs 6:13
• 16. Proverbs 10:8
• 17. Psalms 37:30; Proverbs 13:14; Proverbs 18:4
• 18. Proverbs 10:6
• 19. Proverbs 17:9; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8
• 20. Proverbs 10:31
• 21. Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3
• 22. Proverbs 9:9
• 23. Proverbs 10:8, 10; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 18:7
• 24. Job 31:24; Psalms 52:7; Proverbs 18:11
• 25. Proverbs 19:7
• 26. Proverbs 11:18, 19
• 27. Proverbs 6:23
• 28. Proverbs 26:24
• 29. Job 11:2; Proverbs 18:21; Ecclesiastes 5:3
• 30. Proverbs 17:27; James 1:19; James 3:2
• 31. Proverbs 8:19
• 32. Proverbs 10:11
• 33. Proverbs 5:23; Hosea 4:6
• 34. Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 8:21
• 35. Proverbs 2:14; Proverbs 15:21
• 36. Job 15:21; Proverbs 1:27; Isaiah 66:4
• 37. Psalms 145:19; Proverbs 15:8; Matthew 5:6; 1 John 5:14, 15
• 38. Job 21:18; Psalms 58:9; Proverbs 12:7
• 39. Psalms 15:5; Proverbs 12:3; Matthew 7:24, 25
• 40. Proverbs 26:6
• 41. Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 9:11; Proverbs 14:27
• 42. Job 15:32, 33; Job 22:16; Psalms 55:23
• 43. Proverbs 11:23
• 44. Job 8:13; Job 11:20; Proverbs 11:7
• 45. Proverbs 13:6
• 46. Proverbs 21:15
• 47. Psalms 37:29; Psalms 125:1; Proverbs 2:21
• 48. Proverbs 2:22
• 49. Psalms 37:30; Proverbs 10:13
• 50. Proverbs 17:20
• 51. Ecclesiastes 12:10
• 52. Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 6:12

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Treasures of wickedness"
• [b]. Lit "soul of the righteous"
• [c]. Lit "thrust away"
• [d]. Lit "the foolish of lips"
• [e]. Lit "thrust down"
• [f]. Lit "the foolish of lips"
• [g]. Lit "thrust down"
• [h]. Lit "heart"
• [i]. Lit "strong city"
• [j]. Or "work"
• [k]. Lit "heart"
• [l]. Lit "days"

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.