Proverbs10
New Living Translation
1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.
2Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.
3The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.
4Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
5A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.
6The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
7We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.
8The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.
9People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.
10People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.
11The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
12Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
13Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.
14Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.
15The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.
16The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.
17People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.
18Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.
19Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
20The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.
21The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
22The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
23Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
24The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.
25When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.
26Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
27Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.
29The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.
30The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.
31The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
32The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.
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