Proverbs 10

King James Version (KJV) · English

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. 18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. 24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. 27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Commentary — not Bible text

Proverbs 10:1

Pr 10:1-32. Here begins the second part of the book, Pr 10:1-22:16, which, with the third, Pr 22:16-25:28, contains series of proverbs whose sense is complete in one or two verses, and which, having no logical connection, admit of no analysis. The parallelisms of Pr 10:1-15:33 are mostly antithetic; and those of Pr 16:1-22:16, synthetic. The evidences of art in the structure are very clear, and indicate, probably, a purpose of facilitating the labor of memorizing.

1. wise [and] foolish--as they follow or reject the precepts of wisdom.

maketh ... father--or, "gladdens a father."

heaviness--or, "grief."

Proverbs 10:2

2. Treasures ... nothing--that is, Ill-gotten gains give no true happiness (compare Pr 4:17; Mt 6:19).

righteousness--especially beneficence (Psa 112:9).

death--the greatest of all evils.

Proverbs 10:3

3. (Compare Psa 37:16-20). The last clause is better: "He will repel the greedy desires of the wicked."

Proverbs 10:4

4. slack--literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare Ho 7:16).

maketh rich--(compare Pr 10:22).

Proverbs 10:5

5. son--as Pr 1:8, 10, and often.

sleepeth--in indolence, and not for rest.

causeth shame--literally, "is base" (compare Pr 14:35; 17:2).

Proverbs 10:6

6. Blessings--literally, "Praises." The last clause is better: "The mouth of the wicked covereth (or concealeth) violence (or mischievous devices)" to be executed in due time (Psa 5:9; 10:7; Ro 3:14), and hence has no praises (compare Pr 10:11).

Proverbs 10:7

7. blessed--literally, "for a blessing," or praise.

shall rot--literally, "be worm-eaten," useless and disgusting.

Proverbs 10:8

8. wise, &c.--(compare Pr 9:8, 9, 16), opposed to

prating fool--or, "fool of lips of wicked language."

fall--headlong, suddenly.

Proverbs 10:9

9. perverteth his ways--acts deceitfully.

known--discovered and punished.

Proverbs 10:10

10. Two vices contrasted; hypocrisy, or insinuating evil against one (Pr 6:13; Psa 35:19), and rashness of speech. In each case, the results are on the evildoers.

Proverbs 10:11

11. a well--or, "source" of good to himself and others (Joh 7:37, 38). On last clause, see on Pr 10:6.

Proverbs 10:12

12. strifes--or, "litigations."

covereth--by forgiveness and forbearance.

Proverbs 10:13

13. In the lips ... found--hence, not beaten, as the wicked-speaking fool.

void of understanding--(Pr 6:32; 7:7).

Proverbs 10:14

14. lay up knowledge--that is, as treasures for good use.

mouth ... destruction--or, "as to the mouth," &c., destruction is near; they expose themselves to evil by prating.

Proverbs 10:15

15. Both by trusting in "uncertain riches" (1Ti 6:17), or by the evils of poverty (Pr 30:9), men, not fearing God, fall into dangers.

Proverbs 10:16

16. The industry of the righteous is alone truly successful, while the earnings of the wicked tempt and lead to sin.

Proverbs 10:17

17. keepeth--observes (Pr 3:18; 4:22).

refuseth--or, "turns from reproof," which might direct him aright.

Proverbs 10:18

18. Both vices must one day be known and punished, and hence their folly.

Proverbs 10:19

19. Much speech involves risk of sin; hence the wisdom of restraining the tongue (Psa 39:1; Jas 1:26).

Proverbs 10:20

20. Right speech is the fruit of a good heart, but the wicked show theirs to be useless.

Proverbs 10:21

21. Fools not only fail to benefit others, as do the righteous, but procure their own ruin (compare Pr 10:11, 17; Ho 4:6).

Proverbs 10:22

22. it maketh, &c.--"it" is emphatic. Riches from God are without the sorrow of ill-gotten wealth (compare Ec 2:21-23; 1Ti 6:9, 10, 17).

Proverbs 10:23

23. Sin is the pleasure of the wicked; wisdom that of the good.

Proverbs 10:24

24. it--the very thing. The wicked get dreaded evil; the righteous, desired good.

Proverbs 10:25

25. (Compare Psa 1:4; 37:9, 10, 36).

righteous ... foundation--well laid and firm (Mt 7:24, 25).

Proverbs 10:26

26. that is, causes vexation.

Proverbs 10:28

28. gladness--in confidence of realizing it.

expectation ... perish--in disappointment.

Proverbs 10:29

29. The way, &c.--that is, God's providence sustains the righteous and overthrows the wicked (Ho 14:9).

Proverbs 10:30

30. (Compare Pr 12:3; Psa 37:9-11; 102:28).

earth--or, "land of promise."

Proverbs 10:31

31. bringeth forth--literally, "germinates" as a plant.

froward--(Compare Pr 2:12, 14).

cut off--as an unproductive plant.

Proverbs 10:32

32. know--regard and provide for (Psa 1:6).

frowardness--all kinds of deceit and ill-nature. The word is plural.

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