Proverbs 10

1 Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth a father to rejoice, And a foolish son [is] an affliction to his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit not, And righteousness delivereth from death.

3 Jehovah causeth not the soul of the righteous to hunger, And the desire of the wicked He thrusteth away.

4 Poor [is] he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5 Whoso is gathering in summer [is] a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest [is] a son causing shame.

6 Blessings [are] for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

7 The remembrance of the righteous [is] for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.

8 The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.

9 Whoso is walking in integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known.

10 Whoso is winking the eye giveth grief, And a talkative fool kicketh.

11 A fountain of life [is] the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

12 Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth.

13 In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.

14 The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool [is] near ruin.

15 The wealth of the rich [is] his strong city, The ruin of the poor [is] their poverty.

16 The wage of the righteous [is] for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.

17 A traveller to life [is] he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.

18 Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.

19 In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips [is] wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous [is] chosen silver, The heart of the wicked -- as a little thing.

21 The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.

22 The blessing of Jehovah -- it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it.

23 To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.

24 The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given.

25 As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.

26 As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So [is] the slothful to those sending him.

27 The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous [is] joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.

29 The way of Jehovah [is] strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!

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.