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Proverbs 10

Contrasts of Righteous and Wicked Conduct

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.

Speech, Life, and Death

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.

PreviousProverbs 9
NextProverbs 11

Proverbs 10 begins the main collection of Solomon's proverbs, presenting a series of contrasts between the righteous and the wicked across all areas of life. The chapter emphasizes how wisdom, diligence, and righteous speech lead to blessing and life, while foolishness, laziness, and wicked words result in destruction and death. These practical teachings demonstrate that moral choices have real consequences, affecting not only individuals but also their families and communities.

Context

This chapter marks the transition from the extended discourses of chapters 1-9 to the individual proverbs that characterize the main Solomonic collection through chapter 22.

Key Themes

Outline

  • 1-5
    Family Impact and Work EthicContrasts how wisdom versus foolishness affects parents and how diligence versus laziness determines prosperity.
  • 6-11
    Reputation and SpeechExplores how righteousness brings lasting blessing while wickedness leads to violence and forgotten legacy.
  • 12-19
    Words and Their ConsequencesFocuses on how speech patterns reveal character and determine outcomes, emphasizing restraint and wisdom.
  • 20-26
    Value and ReliabilityContrasts the worth of righteous speech with wicked hearts and the frustration of dealing with lazy people.
  • 27-32
    Divine Justice and Eternal OutcomesConcludes with how fearing the LORD leads to security and longevity while wickedness brings destruction.

Contrasts of Righteous and Wicked Conduct

10:1–10:16
wisdominstructioncontemplative

Solomon's proverbs contrasting wise and foolish behavior, covering family relationships, work ethic, speech, and the consequences of righteous versus wicked conduct.

person_contrast

Solomon's opening proverb uniquely assigns grief to mothers rather than fathers, reversing the typical biblical pattern where paternal disappointment dominates wisdom literature.

Speech, Life, and Death

10:17–10:32
wisdominstructioncontemplative

Proverbs focusing on the power of speech, the contrast between righteous and wicked outcomes, and how the fear of the LORD brings blessing and longevity.

structural

Within these sixteen verses, the Hebrew word for "lips" (śāpāh) appears six times—more than in any other comparable Proverbs passage—creating an intensive focus on speech's moral power.

Proverbs 10:1

Proverbs 15:20lexical

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 17:21lexical

He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

Proverbs 10:2

Proverbs 11:4lexical

Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Ezekiel 33:12lexical

“You, son of man, tell the children of your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him in the day…

Proverbs 10:4

Proverbs 12:27lexical

The slothful man doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.

Proverbs 12:24lexical

The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.

Proverbs 10:5

Proverbs 6:8lexical

provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

Proverbs 10:6

Psalms 11:5lexical

The LORD examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.

Proverbs 10:8

Proverbs 17:28lexical

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

Proverbs 14:3lexical

The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Proverbs 10:11

Proverbs 25:26lexical

Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Psalms 11:5lexical

The LORD examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.

Proverbs 10:12

Proverbs 17:9lexical

He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

Proverbs 10:15

Proverbs 18:11lexical

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

Proverbs 10:16

Proverbs 15:6lexical

In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

Proverbs 10:17

Proverbs 15:10lexical

There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die.

Proverbs 10:20

Psalms 37:16lexical

Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

Proverbs 10:24

Proverbs 11:23lexical

The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Proverbs 10:28

Proverbs 11:7lexical

When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.

Job 11:20lexical

But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”

Proverbs 11:23lexical

The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Proverbs 11:10lexical

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.

Psalms 1:6lexical

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Proverbs 10:29

Proverbs 21:15lexical

It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 10:30

Proverbs 12:3lexical

A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

Psalms 104:5lexical

He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.

Proverbs 25:26lexical

Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Psalms 112:6lexical

For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.

Proverbs 10:31

Psalms 37:30lexical

The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

Interlinear

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