Proverbs 10:16-26

16 The 1wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 He 2is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18 He 3who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are 4many words, transgression is unavoidable *, But 5he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is as 6choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The 7lips of the righteous feed many, But fools 8die for lack of understanding.
22 It is the 9blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wickedness is like 10sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
24 What 11the wicked fears will come upon him, But the 12desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the 13whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the 14righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the 15lazy one to those who send him.

Proverbs 10:16-26 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 15

  • 1. Proverbs 11:18, 19
  • 2. Proverbs 6:23
  • 3. Proverbs 26:24
  • 4. Job 11:2; Proverbs 18:21; Ecclesiastes 5:3
  • 5. Proverbs 17:27; James 1:19; James 3:2
  • 6. Proverbs 8:19
  • 7. Proverbs 10:11
  • 8. Proverbs 5:23; Hosea 4:6
  • 9. Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 8:21
  • 10. Proverbs 2:14; Proverbs 15:21
  • 11. Job 15:21; Proverbs 1:27; Isaiah 66:4
  • 12. Psalms 145:19; Proverbs 15:8; Matthew 5:6; 1 John 5:14, 15
  • 13. Job 21:18; Psalms 58:9; Proverbs 12:7
  • 14. Psalms 15:5; Proverbs 12:3; Matthew 7:24, 25
  • 15. Proverbs 26:6

Footnotes 2

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