Proverbs 10:12-22

12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

Proverbs 10:12-22 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 16

  • 1. Proverbs 17:9; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 Peter 4:8
  • 2. ver 31; S Psalms 37:30; Proverbs 15:7
  • 3. S Deuteronomy 25:2; Proverbs 14:3; Proverbs 26:3
  • 4. Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 12:23
  • 5. S ver 6; S Psalms 59:12; S Proverbs 14:3; Proverbs 18:6,7; S Matthew 12:37
  • 6. Proverbs 18:11
  • 7. Proverbs 19:7
  • 8. S Deuteronomy 30:15
  • 9. Proverbs 11:18-19; Proverbs 15:6; S Romans 6:23
  • 10. Proverbs 6:23; Proverbs 15:5
  • 11. S Psalms 31:18
  • 12. S Job 1:22; S Job 6:24; Proverbs 17:28; S Proverbs 20:25; Proverbs 21:23; Ecclesiastes 5:3; James 1:19; James 3:2-12
  • 13. Proverbs 5:22-23; Isaiah 5:13; Jeremiah 5:4; Hos 4:1,6,14
  • 14. S Psalms 128:2
  • 15. S Genesis 13:2; S Genesis 49:25; S Deuteronomy 8:18; Genesis 24:35; Psalms 37:22
  • 16. S 2 Chronicles 25:9
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