Proverbs10
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.
3 Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
4 He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.
9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 One who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22 Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
23 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
24 What the wicked fear will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
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Proverbs 10Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 10. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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