Proverbs 10:11-21

11 a fountain of life in the hand of a righteous man; but destruction shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.
12 Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife.
13 He that brings forth wisdom from his lips smites the fool with a rod.
14 The wise will hide discretion; but the mouth of the hasty draws near to ruin.
15 The wealth of rich men is a strong city; but poverty is the ruin of the ungodly.
16 The works of the righteous produce life; but the fruits of the ungodly sins.
17 Instruction keeps the right ways of life; but instruction unchastened goes astray.
18 Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish.
19 By a multitude of words thou shalt not escape sin; but if thou refrain thy lips thou wilt be prudent.
20 The tongue of the just is tried silver; but the heart of the ungodly shall fail.
21 The lips of the righteous know sublime : but the foolish die in want.

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.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit. heartless man, Hebraism.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.