Proverbs 10

1 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

2 Wealth which comes from sin is of no profit, but righteousness gives salvation from death.

3 The Lord will not let the upright be in need of food, but he puts far from him the desire of the evil-doers.

4 He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth.

5 He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame.

6 Blessings are on the head of the upright, but the face of sinners will be covered with sorrow.

7 The memory of the upright is a blessing, but the name of the evil-doer will be turned to dust.

8 The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.

9 He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose ways are twisted will be made low.

10 He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace.

11 The mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the evil-doer is a bitter cup.

12 Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love.

13 In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen; but a rod is ready for the back of him who is without sense.

14 Knowledge is stored up by the wise, but the mouth of the foolish man is a destruction which is near.

15 The property of the man of wealth is his strong town: the poor man's need is his destruction.

16 The work of the upright gives life: the increase of the evil-doer is a cause of sin.

17 He who takes note of teaching is a way of life, but he who gives up training is a cause of error.

18 Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish.

19 Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.

20 The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value.

21 The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord gives wealth: hard work makes it no greater.

23 It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom.

24 The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him, but the upright man will get his desire.

25 When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no longer, but the upright man is safe for ever.

26 Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him.

27 The fear of the Lord gives long life, but the years of the evil-doer will be cut short.

28 The hope of the upright man will give joy, but the waiting of the evil-doer will have its end in sorrow.

29 The way of the Lord is a strong tower for the upright man, but destruction to the workers of evil.

30 The upright man will never be moved, but evil-doers will not have a safe resting-place in the land.

31 The mouth of the upright man is budding with wisdom, but the twisted tongue will be cut off.

32 The lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is pleasing, but twisted are the mouths of evil-doers.

Proverbs 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

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.

Verse 1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and ( proverbs 10:2-3 ) the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life. Verse 4 . Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works. Verse 5 . Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Verse 6 . Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings. Verse 7 . Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference. Verse 8 . The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice. Verse 9 . Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed. Verse 10 . Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity. Verse 11 . The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others. Verse 12 . Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved. Verse 13 . Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves. Verse 14 . Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom. Verse 15 . This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith. Verse 16 . Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life. Verse 17 . The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still. Verse 18 . He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better. Verse 19 . Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise ( proverbs 10:20-21 ) the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought. Verse 22 . That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion. Verse 23 . Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin. Verse 24 . The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted. Verse 25 . The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone. Verse 26 . As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes ( proverbs 10:27-28 ) is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other. Verse 29 . The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight. Verse 30 . The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die ( proverbs 10:31-32 ) wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Chapter Summary

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.