Proverbs 10:18-32

18 He 1who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are 2many words, transgression is unavoidable *, But 3he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is as 4choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The 5lips of the righteous feed many, But fools 6die for lack of understanding.
22 It is the 7blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wickedness is like 8sport to a fool, And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
24 What 9the wicked fears will come upon him, But the 10desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the 11whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the 12righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the 13lazy one to those who send him.
27 The 14fear of the LORD prolongs life, But the 15years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The 16hope of the righteous is gladness, But the 17expectation of the wicked perishes.
29 The 18way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, But 19ruin to the workers of iniquity.
30 The 20righteous will never * be shaken, But 21the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The 22mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the 23perverted tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous bring forth 24what is acceptable, But the 25mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

Proverbs 10:18-32 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 25

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

Footnotes 2

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