Proverbs 10:13-23

13 On 1the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But 2a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.
14 Wise men 3store up knowledge, But with 4the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15 The 5rich man's wealth is his fortress *, The 6ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The 7wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 He 8is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18 He 9who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are 10many words, transgression is unavoidable *, But 11he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is as 12choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The 13lips of the righteous feed many, But fools 14die for lack of understanding.
22 It is the 15blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wickedness is like 16sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

Proverbs 10:13-23 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. Proverbs 10:31
  • 2. Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3
  • 3. Proverbs 9:9
  • 4. Proverbs 10:8, 10; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 18:7
  • 5. Job 31:24; Psalms 52:7; Proverbs 18:11
  • 6. Proverbs 19:7
  • 7. Proverbs 11:18, 19
  • 8. Proverbs 6:23
  • 9. Proverbs 26:24
  • 10. Job 11:2; Proverbs 18:21; Ecclesiastes 5:3
  • 11. Proverbs 17:27; James 1:19; James 3:2
  • 12. Proverbs 8:19
  • 13. Proverbs 10:11
  • 14. Proverbs 5:23; Hosea 4:6
  • 15. Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 8:21
  • 16. Proverbs 2:14; Proverbs 15:21

Footnotes 4

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.