Proverbs 10:22-32

22 It is the 1blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wickedness is like 2sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
24 What 3the wicked fears will come upon him, But the 4desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the 5whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the 6righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the 7lazy one to those who send him.
27 The 8fear of the LORD prolongs life, But the 9years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The 10hope of the righteous is gladness, But the 11expectation of the wicked perishes.
29 The 12way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, But 13ruin to the workers of iniquity.
30 The 14righteous will never * be shaken, But 15the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The 16mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the 17perverted tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous bring forth 18what is acceptable, But the 19mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

Proverbs 10:22-32 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 19

  • 1. Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 8:21
  • 2. Proverbs 2:14; Proverbs 15:21
  • 3. Job 15:21; Proverbs 1:27; Isaiah 66:4
  • 4. Psalms 145:19; Proverbs 15:8; Matthew 5:6; 1 John 5:14, 15
  • 5. Job 21:18; Psalms 58:9; Proverbs 12:7
  • 6. Psalms 15:5; Proverbs 12:3; Matthew 7:24, 25
  • 7. Proverbs 26:6
  • 8. Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 9:11; Proverbs 14:27
  • 9. Job 15:32, 33; Job 22:16; Psalms 55:23
  • 10. Proverbs 11:23
  • 11. Job 8:13; Job 11:20; Proverbs 11:7
  • 12. Proverbs 13:6
  • 13. Proverbs 21:15
  • 14. Psalms 37:29; Psalms 125:1; Proverbs 2:21
  • 15. Proverbs 2:22
  • 16. Psalms 37:30; Proverbs 10:13
  • 17. Proverbs 17:20
  • 18. Ecclesiastes 12:10
  • 19. Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 6:12

Footnotes 1

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