Proverbs10
New International Version
1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
3The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
5He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
7The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
17Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
19Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
22The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
23A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
24What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.
25When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
26As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.
27The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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..
v1
The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and this suggests to both, motives to their duties.
vv2-3
Though the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life.
v4
Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works.
Key Words
מָשָׁל: properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)
שְׁלֹמֹה: Shelomah, David's successor
חָכָם: wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
שָׂמַח: probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
כְּסִיל: properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
תּוּגָה: depression (of spirits); concretely a grief
אֵם: a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father))
אוֹצָר: a depository
Cross References
Proverbs 10Direct New Testament parallel to 'love covereth all sins'; Peter quotes or echoes this proverb verbatim.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel within Proverbs contrasting the futility of riches with righteousness delivering from death.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Poole cites David's witness that the righteous are not forsaken or left to famish.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal link to the ant gathering food in summer and harvest to avoid shame.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Illustrates 'winketh with the eye' as a gesture of malicious hypocrisy and deceit.
Supported by JFB
The mouth of the righteous as a 'well of life' parallel to living water flowing from believers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Christ's parable of the wise builder on the rock echoes the 'everlasting foundation' of the righteous.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels how the ways of the Lord are strength to upright but stumbling blocks to transgressors.
Supported by JFB
Defines the 'righteousness' that delivers from death as active, enduring beneficence and charity.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts the rich man's 'strong city' with the NT warning against trusting in uncertain riches.
Supported by JFB
Elaborates on the folly of hiding hatred with lying, deceitful lips.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Reinforces the power and danger of the tongue, where life and death are in its power.
Supported by JFB
Matches 'fools die for want of wisdom' with God's people destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Supported by JFB
Confirms that the memory of the righteous will be in everlasting, blessed remembrance.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel regarding the 'rod for the back' of those void of understanding.
Supported by Matthew Poole