Proverbs Chapter 10 — The Proverbs of Solomon
This chapter begins a collection of Solomon's individual proverbs, contrasting the character and outcomes of the righteous with those of the wicked.
1The proverbs of Solomon.
2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
3The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry,
4He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand,
5He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
7The memory of the righteous is blessed,
8The wise in heart accept commandments,
9He who walks blamelessly walks surely,
10One who winks with the eye causes sorrow,
11The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,
12Hatred stirs up strife,
13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
14Wise men lay up knowledge,
15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.
16The labor of the righteous leads to life.
17He is in the way of life who heeds correction,
18He who hides hatred has lying lips.
19In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience,
20The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
21The lips of the righteous feed many,
22The LORD’s blessing brings wealth,
23It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,
24What the wicked fear will overtake them,
25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more;
26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,
27The fear of the LORD prolongs days,
28The prospect of the righteous is joy,
29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright,
30The righteous will never be removed,
31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Proverbs 10:4
“He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.”
This verse establishes a clear connection between work ethic and economic consequences.
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.”
It contrasts the destructive nature of malice with the healing and restorative power of love.
Proverbs 10:22
“The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.”
This proverb highlights that true prosperity comes from divine favor rather than just human effort.
Chapter Summary
Proverbs 10 marks the beginning of a new section containing individual proverbs attributed to Solomon. Unlike the longer discourses in the previous chapters, this section uses short, two-line couplets to provide practical wisdom for daily life. The chapter heavily utilizes antithetical parallelism, contrasting the behavior and results of the wise versus the foolish, and the diligent versus the lazy. Significant emphasis is placed on the power of speech, noting that the words of the righteous are a source of life while the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The text also addresses economic themes, stating that while hard work brings wealth, treasures gained through wickedness offer no lasting profit. Ultimately, the chapter asserts that the fear of the LORD provides security and a long life, whereas the hopes of the wicked will perish.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main focus is the practical contrast between the lifestyles of the righteous and the wicked. It covers themes like the value of hard work, the importance of honest speech, and the stability that comes from living with integrity.
It teaches that the words of the righteous are like 'choice silver' and a 'spring of life,' meaning they provide value and nourishment to others. Conversely, it warns that the mouth of the wicked is used for concealment and violence, and that excessive talking can lead to sin.
The text states that a lazy hand leads to poverty and that a son who sleeps during the harvest causes shame. It contrasts this with the 'wise son' who gathers and works diligently during the proper seasons.
Study Note
This chapter transitions from the parental exhortations found in chapters 1-9 to a collection of individual maxims that often use 'antithetical parallelism' to contrast two different character traits.
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