Proverbs 10:11-21

11 The mouth of a righteous person is a fountain of life, but the mouths of wicked people conceal violence.
12 Hate starts quarrels, but love covers every wrong.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of a person who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of one without sense.
14 Those who are wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a stubborn fool invites ruin.
15 The rich person's wealth is [his] strong city. Poverty ruins the poor.
16 A righteous person's reward is life. A wicked person's harvest is sin.
17 Whoever practices discipline is on the way to life, but whoever ignores a warning strays.
18 Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips. Whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, but whoever seals his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of a righteous person is pure silver. The hearts of wicked people are worthless.
21 The lips of a righteous person feed many, but stubborn fools die because they have no sense.

Proverbs 10:11-21 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.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.