Proverbs 10:1-11

1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2 Treasures gained dishonestly profit no one, but righteousness rescues from death.

3 The LORD will not allow a righteous person to starve, but he intentionally ignores the desires of a wicked person.

4 Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands bring riches.

5 Whoever gathers in the summer is a wise son. Whoever sleeps at harvest time brings shame.

6 Blessings cover the head of a righteous person, but violence covers the mouths of wicked people.

7 The name of a righteous person remains blessed, but the names of wicked people will rot away.

8 The one who is truly wise accepts commands, but the one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.

9 Whoever lives honestly will live securely, but whoever lives dishonestly will be found out.

10 Whoever winks with his eye causes heartache. The one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.

11 The mouth of a righteous person is a fountain of life, but the mouths of wicked people conceal violence.

Proverbs 10:1-11 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.