Proverbs 10:23-32

23 To make an abomination is as sport to the fool, but wisdom is recreation to the man of intelligence.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him, but God shall grant the desire of the righteous.
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is founded for ever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those that send him.
27 The fear of the LORD shall prolong days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the perfect, but it is terror to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous eternally shall never be removed, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous shall know the will of God, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perversion.

Proverbs 10:23-32 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.

The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010