Proverbs · Chapter 10 of 31

Proverbs 10

1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

7The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

8The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

9He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

22The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

23It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

24The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

25As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

27The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

30The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

King James Version (1769) · public domain

1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

2Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. 3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked.

4Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

14The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.

15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.

17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.

18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

22The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.

23The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

24What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.

26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.

27The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short. 28The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.

29The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil.

30The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. 32The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Berean Standard Bible · public domain

1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. 3The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

4He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

9He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10One who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.

11The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

14Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.

17He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.

18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

19In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

20The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

22The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

23It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

24What the wicked fear will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.

26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

27The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.

29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

World English Bible · public domain

About Proverbs

Proverbs 10 commentary

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706), public domain.

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 this suggests to both, motives to their duties.

Verses 2-3

Though 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 man, and therein consults his own peace.

Verses 20-21

The tongue of 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 to smart, so the sluggard vexes his employer.

Verses 27-28

What man 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 and leave all their idols behind.

Verses 31-32

A good man discourses 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.

Key verses in Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:4
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Proverbs 10:9
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.