Proverbs 10

Proverbs of Solomon

1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child grieves his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.

3 Yahweh will not cause a righteous person to go hungry, but the craving of the wicked he will thwart.

4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent enriches.

5 He who gathers in the summer [is] a child who is prudent; he who sleeps at the harvest [is] a child who brings shame.

6 Blessings [belong] to the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 The memory of righteousness [is] like a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 A heart of wisdom will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

9 Whoever walks in integrity will walk securely, but whoever follows perversity, his ways will be made known.

10 The winking of an eye causes trouble, and the foolishness of lips comes to ruin.

11 A fountain of life [is] a mouth of righteousness, and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.

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

13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod [is] for the back of one who lacks {sense}.

14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge, but [to] the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

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

16 The wage of the righteous [leads] to life; the gain of the wicked to sin.

17 [On] the path to life is he who guards instruction, but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.

18 He who conceals hatred [has] lips of deceit, and he who utters slander--he is a fool.

19 In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

20 Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness, a heart of wickedness is {of little worth}.

21 Lips of righteousness feed many, but fools {die for lack of sense}.

22 The blessing of Yahweh makes [one] rich, and he does not increase sorrow with it.

23 [It is] like a sport for a fool to do wrong, wisdom for a person of understanding.

24 The dread of the wicked will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 With the passing of the tempest, there is no wickedness, but [the] righteous have a foundation forever.

26 Like vinegar to the tooth and like smoke to the eyes, thus [is] the lazy to one who employs him.

27 The fear of Yahweh adds life, but the years of the wicked are shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous [is] gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

29 A stronghold for the upright is the way of Yahweh, but ruin [belongs] to {evildoers}.

30 The righteous one is forever; he will not be removed. But the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a tongue of perversity will be cut off.

32 The lips of the righteous know [the] acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, the 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "soul," or "inner self"
• [b]. Hebrew "in the integrity"
• [c]. Or "gives, sets up"
• [d]. Literally "heart"
• [e]. Or "mind"
• [f]. Literally "like a little"
• [g]. Literally "in the lack of heart, they die"
• [h]. Or "sends"
• [i]. Literally "them who do evil"
• [j]. Or "earth"

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.