Proverbs 10

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; But a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.

3 Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, But he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

4 He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, But he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise in heart accept commandments, But a chattering fool will fall.

9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10 One winking with the eye causes sorrow, But a chattering fool will fall.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all wrongs.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, But a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.

17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction, But he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.

18 He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, But he who restrains his lips does wisely.

20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But the foolish die for lack of understanding.

22 The blessing of Yahweh brings wealth, And he adds no trouble to it.

23 It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, But wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.

24 What the wicked fear, will overtake them, But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to those who send him.

27 The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, But the hope of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut off.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Proverbs 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.