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.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 10
Commentary on Proverbs 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
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."
2. Treasures … nothing—that is, Ill-gotten gains give no true happiness (compare Pr 4:17; Mt 6:19).
righteousness—especially beneficence (Ps 112:9).
death—the greatest of all evils.
3. (Compare Ps 37:16-20). The last clause is better: "He will repel the greedy desires of the wicked."
4. slack—literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare Ho 7:16).
maketh rich—(compare Pr 10:22).
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).
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 (Ps 5:9; 10:7; Ro 3:14), and hence has no praises (compare Pr 10:11).
7. blessed—literally, "for a blessing," or praise.
shall rot—literally, "be worm-eaten," useless and disgusting.
8. wise, &c.—(compare Pr 9:8, 9, 16), opposed to
prating fool—or, "fool of lips of wicked language."
fall—headlong, suddenly.
9. perverteth his ways—acts deceitfully.
known—discovered and punished.
10. Two vices contrasted; hypocrisy, or insinuating evil against one (Pr 6:13; Ps 35:19), and rashness of speech. In each case, the results are on the evildoers.
11. a well—or, "source" of good to himself and others (Joh 7:37, 38). On last clause, see on Pr 10:6.
12. strifes—or, "litigations."
covereth—by forgiveness and forbearance.
13. In the lips … found—hence, not beaten, as the wicked-speaking fool.
void of understanding—(Pr 6:32; 7:7).
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.
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.
16. The industry of the righteous is alone truly successful, while the earnings of the wicked tempt and lead to sin.
17. keepeth—observes (Pr 3:18; 4:22).
refuseth—or, "turns from reproof," which might direct him aright.
18. Both vices must one day be known and punished, and hence their folly.
19. Much speech involves risk of sin; hence the wisdom of restraining the tongue (Ps 39:1; Jas 1:26).
20. Right speech is the fruit of a good heart, but the wicked show theirs to be useless.
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).
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).
23. Sin is the pleasure of the wicked; wisdom that of the good.
24. it—the very thing. The wicked get dreaded evil; the righteous, desired good.
25. (Compare Ps 1:4; 37:9, 10, 36).
righteous … foundation—well laid and firm (Mt 7:24, 25).
26. that is, causes vexation.
27. (Compare Pr 9:11; Ps 55:23).
28. gladness—in confidence of realizing it.
expectation … perish—in disappointment.
29. The way, &c.—that is, God's providence sustains the righteous and overthrows the wicked (Ho 14:9).
30. (Compare Pr 12:3; Ps 37:9-11; 102:28).
earth—or, "land of promise."
31. bringeth forth—literally, "germinates" as a plant.
froward—(Compare Pr 2:12, 14).
cut off—as an unproductive plant.
32. know—regard and provide for (Ps 1:6).
frowardness—all kinds of deceit and ill-nature. The word is plural.