Proverbs 10:12-22

12 Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins.

13 On the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

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

16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life, the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17 He that keepeth instruction is in the way of life, but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth slander, is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there lacketh not sin, but he that restraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for want of wisdom.

22 The blessings of the LORD maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 10:12-22 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.