Proverbs 10:9-19

9 He 1who walks in integrity walks securely, But 2he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 He 3who winks the eye causes trouble, And 4a babbling fool will be ruined.
11 The 5mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But 6the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, But 7love covers all transgressions.
13 On 8the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But 9a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.
14 Wise men 10store up knowledge, But with 11the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15 The 12rich man's wealth is his fortress *, The 13ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The 14wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 He 15is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18 He 16who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are 17many words, transgression is unavoidable *, But 18he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 10:9-19 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 18

  • 1. Psalms 23:4; Proverbs 3:23; Proverbs 28:18; Isaiah 33:15, 16
  • 2. Proverbs 26:26; Matthew 10:26; 1 Timothy 5:25
  • 3. Psalms 35:19; Proverbs 6:13
  • 4. Proverbs 10:8
  • 5. Psalms 37:30; Proverbs 13:14; Proverbs 18:4
  • 6. Proverbs 10:6
  • 7. Proverbs 17:9; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8
  • 8. Proverbs 10:31
  • 9. Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3
  • 10. Proverbs 9:9
  • 11. Proverbs 10:8, 10; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 18:7
  • 12. Job 31:24; Psalms 52:7; Proverbs 18:11
  • 13. Proverbs 19:7
  • 14. Proverbs 11:18, 19
  • 15. Proverbs 6:23
  • 16. Proverbs 26:24
  • 17. Job 11:2; Proverbs 18:21; Ecclesiastes 5:3
  • 18. Proverbs 17:27; James 1:19; James 3:2

Footnotes 5

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