Proverbs 10:18-28

18 Lying lips conceal hatred, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

23 Doing wrong is like sport to a fool, but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.

24 What the wicked dread will come upon them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are established forever.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employers.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

28 The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

Proverbs 10:18-28 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or [and toil adds nothing to it]