Proverbes 10

1 Proverbes de Salomon. L'enfant sage réjouit son père; mais l'enfant insensé est le chagrin de sa mère.

2 Les trésors de méchanceté ne profitent point; mais la justice délivre de la mort.

3 L'Éternel ne permet pas que le juste souffre de la faim; mais il repousse l'avidité des méchants.

4 La main paresseuse appauvrit; mais la main des diligents enrichit.

5 Celui qui amasse en été est un fils prudent; celui qui dort pendant la moisson est un fils qui fait honte.

6 Il y a des bénédictions sur la tête du juste; mais la violence fermera la bouche aux méchants.

7 La mémoire du juste sera en bénédiction; mais le nom des méchants tombera en pourriture.

8 Celui qui a le cœur sage, reçoit les avertissements; mais celui qui a les lèvres insensées, tombera.

9 Celui qui marche dans l'intégrité, marche en assurance; mais celui qui pervertit ses voies, sera découvert.

10 Celui qui cligne de l'œil cause du trouble; et celui qui a les lèvres insensées, court à sa perte.

11 La bouche du juste est une source de vie; mais la violence fermera la bouche aux méchants.

12 La haine excite les querelles; mais la charité couvre toutes les fautes.

13 La sagesse se trouve sur les lèvres de l'homme sage; mais la verge est pour le dos de celui qui est dépourvu de sens.

14 Les sages tiennent la science en réserve; mais la bouche de l'insensé est une ruine prochaine.

15 Les biens du riche sont sa ville forte; mais la pauvreté des misérables est leur ruine.

16 L'œuvre du juste conduit à la vie; mais le fruit du méchant est le péché.

17 Celui qui garde l'instruction, est dans le chemin de la vie; mais celui qui oublie la correction, s'égare.

18 Celui qui dissimule la haine a des lèvres trompeuses; et celui qui répand la calomnie, est un insensé.

19 Où il y a beaucoup de paroles, il ne manque pas d'y avoir du péché; mais celui qui retient ses lèvres est prudent.

20 La langue du juste est un argent de choix; mais le cœur des méchants vaut peu de chose.

21 Les lèvres du juste nourrissent beaucoup d'hommes; mais les insensés mourront, faute de sens.

22 C'est la bénédiction de l'Éternel qui enrichit, et il n'y joint aucune peine.

23 Faire le mal est la joie de l'insensé; la sagesse est celle de l'homme prudent.

24 Ce que le méchant craint, lui arrivera; mais Dieu accordera aux justes ce qu'ils désirent.

25 Comme le tourbillon passe, ainsi le méchant disparaît; mais le juste s'appuie sur un fondement éternel.

26 Ce que le vinaigre est aux dents, et la fumée aux yeux, tel est le paresseux à ceux qui l'envoient.

27 La crainte de l'Éternel multiplie les jours; mais les années des méchants seront retranchées.

28 L'espérance des justes est la joie; mais l'attente des méchants périra.

29 La voie de l'Éternel est la force de l'homme intègre; mais elle est la ruine des ouvriers d'iniquité.

30 Le juste ne sera jamais ébranlé; mais les méchants n'habiteront point sur la terre.

31 La bouche du juste produira la sagesse; mais la langue perverse sera retranchée.

32 Les lèvres du juste connaissent ce qui est agréable; mais la bouche des méchants n'est que perversité.

Proverbes 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Through the whole of the Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat beyond the first sense the passage may imply, and this we shall find to be Christ. He is the Wisdom so often spoken of in this book.

Verse 1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and ( proverbs 10:2-3 ) the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life. Verse 4 . Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works. Verse 5 . Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Verse 6 . Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings. Verse 7 . Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference. Verse 8 . The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice. Verse 9 . Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed. Verse 10 . Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity. Verse 11 . The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others. Verse 12 . Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved. Verse 13 . Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves. Verse 14 . Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom. Verse 15 . This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith. Verse 16 . Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life. Verse 17 . The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still. Verse 18 . He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better. Verse 19 . Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise ( proverbs 10:20-21 ) the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought. Verse 22 . That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion. Verse 23 . Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin. Verse 24 . The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted. Verse 25 . The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone. Verse 26 . As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes ( proverbs 10:27-28 ) is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other. Verse 29 . The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight. Verse 30 . The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die ( proverbs 10:31-32 ) wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Chapter Summary

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.