1 The Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death.
3 Jehovah suffereth not the soul of the righteous [man] to famish; but he repelleth the craving of the wicked.
4 He cometh to want that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
6 Blessings are upon the head of a righteous [man]; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
7 The memory of the righteous [man] shall be blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot.
8 The wise in heart receiveth commandments; but a prating fool shall fall.
9 He that walketh in integrity walketh securely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
10 He that winketh with the eye causeth grief, and a prating fool shall fall.
11 The mouth of a righteous [man] is a fountain of life; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all transgressions.
13 In the lips of an intelligent [man] wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14 The wise lay up knowledge; but the mouth of the fool 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 a righteous [man] [tendeth] to life; the revenue of a wicked [man], to sin.
17 Keeping instruction is the path to life; but he that forsaketh reproof goeth astray.
18 He that covereth hatred hath lying lips, and he that sendeth forth a slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.
20 The tongue of the righteous [man] is [as] choice silver; the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of a righteous [man] feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.
22 The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow to it.
23 It is as sport to a foolish [man] to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
24 The fear of a wicked [man], it shall come upon him; but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25 As a 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 Jehovah prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous is joy; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of Jehovah is strength to the perfect [man], but destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous [man] shall never be moved; but the wicked shall not inhabit the land.
31 The mouth of a righteous [man] putteth forth wisdom; but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of a righteous [man] know what is acceptable; but the mouth of the wicked is frowardness.
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.