Proverbs 10:5-15

5 He who ¹gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is ²a son who brings shame.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but ³the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 ⁴The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but ⁵the name of the wicked will rot.

8 ⁶The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

9 ⁷Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked ⁸will be found out.

10 Whoever ⁹winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

11 ¹⁰The mouth of the righteous is ¹¹a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked ¹²conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but ¹³love covers all offenses.

13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but ¹⁴a rod is for the back of him who ¹⁵lacks sense.

14 The wise ¹⁶lay up knowledge, but ¹⁷the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

15 ¹⁸A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

Proverbs 10:5-15 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

• 1. [Proverbs 6:8]
• 2. Proverbs 17:2; Proverbs 19:26
• 3. ver. 32
• 4. Psalms 112:6
• 5. [Psalms 9:5]
• 6. [Matthew 7:24, 25]
• 7. Proverbs 3:23; Proverbs 28:18; Psalms 23:4; Isaiah 33:15, 16
• 8. [Matthew 10:26; 1 Timothy 5:25]
• 9. Proverbs 6:13
• 10. Psalms 37:30
• 11. Proverbs 13:14; Psalms 36:9
• 12. [See ver. 6 above]
• 13. 1 Peter 4:8; [James 5:20]
• 14. Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 26:3
• 15. See Proverbs 6:32
• 16. [ver. 8; Proverbs 12:23]
• 17. Proverbs 18:7
• 18. Proverbs 18:11; [Psalms 52:7; Mark 10:24, 25]