1 Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth a father to rejoice, And a foolish son `is' an affliction to his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit not, And righteousness delivereth from death.
3 Jehovah causeth not the soul of the righteous to hunger, And the desire of the wicked He thrusteth away.
4 Poor `is' he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5 Whoso is gathering in summer `is' a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest `is' a son causing shame.
6 Blessings `are' for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.
7 The remembrance of the righteous `is' for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.
8 The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.
9 Whoso is walking in integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known.
10 Whoso is winking the eye giveth grief, And a talkative fool kicketh.
11 A fountain of life `is' the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.
12 Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth.
13 In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod `is' for the back of him who is lacking understanding.
14 The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool `is' near ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich `is' his strong city, The ruin of the poor `is' their poverty.
16 The wage of the righteous `is' for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.
17 A traveller to life `is' he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.
18 Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.
19 In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips `is' wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous `is' chosen silver, The heart of the wicked -- as a little thing.
21 The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.
22 The blessing of Jehovah -- it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it.
23 To execute inventions `is' as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
24 The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given.
25 As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So `is' the slothful to those sending him.
27 The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous `is' joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.
29 The way of Jehovah `is' strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth.
31 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!
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.