Proverbs 10: The Wise and the Wicked Contrasted
Solomon's proverbs set the righteous against the wicked through speech, work, and the destinies they reap.
Proverbs 10 (WEB)
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.
3 Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
4 He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.
9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 One winking with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22 Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
23 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
24 What the wicked fear, will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27 The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Proverbs 10 (KJV)
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish 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 the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25 As the 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 the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Proverbs 10 (ASV)
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death.
3 Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.
4 He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; Buthe that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.
13 In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteoustendethto life; The increase of the wicked, to sin.
17 He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth.
18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.
20 The tongue of the righteous isaschoice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22 The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow therewith.
23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; Andso iswisdom to a man of understanding.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is 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 righteousshall begladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wickedspeaketh perverseness.
Summary
This chapter opens the collection of Solomon's two-line proverbs, each contrasting the wise and righteous with the foolish and wicked. A wise son gladdens his father; righteousness delivers from death while treasures of wickedness profit nothing. Diligence brings wealth, but laziness brings poverty, and the one who gathers in summer is wise. Much of the chapter weighs the power of words: the mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, the tongue of the righteous is choice silver, and restraining the lips is wise, while the chattering fool, the slanderer, and the one who hides hatred bring ruin. Love covers wrongs that hatred stirs up. Repeatedly the destinies diverge: the righteous stand firm forever and gain joy, while the wicked are blown away by the whirlwind and their years are shortened. The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, and his blessing brings wealth without sorrow.
Main Characters
- The righteous — Those whose diligent, truthful, life-giving lives are blessed and stand firm before God forever.
- The wicked — Those whose violence, deceit, and folly bring ruin, shame, and a name that rots away.
- Yahweh — The LORD whose blessing brings wealth without sorrow and whose fear prolongs the days of life.
- The wise and foolish son — The contrasting children whose conduct brings either gladness or grief to their parents.
Key Verse
Proverbs 10:12 (WEB)
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
Lessons Learned
- The way of righteousness and the way of wickedness lead to opposite ends.
- Our words have great power to give life or to bring ruin.
- Diligence is honored while laziness brings poverty and shame.
- Love covers offenses, while hatred only stirs up strife.
- Righteousness has lasting value that wickedness lacks. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 10:2, WEB).
- Diligence is rewarded and laziness impoverishes. He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth (Proverbs 10:4, WEB).
- Righteous words give life. The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, while violence covers the mouth of the wicked (Proverbs 10:11, WEB).
- Love covers offenses that hatred inflames. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12, WEB).
- Restraint in speech is wisdom. In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely (Proverbs 10:19, WEB).
- The righteous endure while the wicked are swept away. When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous stand firm forever (Proverbs 10:25, WEB).
- What contrast does the chapter draw between the speech of the righteous and the wicked (Proverbs 10:11, 19-21)?
- How does the chapter describe the value of diligence versus laziness (Proverbs 10:4-5)?
- What different destinies await the righteous and the wicked (Proverbs 10:25, 27-28)?
- Which of these proverbs about the tongue most challenges the way you speak?
- How does knowing that 'love covers all wrongs' shape the way you handle others' offenses?
- The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life and choice silver, feeding many, while the wicked conceal violence; a multitude of words breeds sin, but restraining the lips is wise (10:11, 19-21). Righteous speech nourishes; foolish speech destroys.
- The lazy hand brings poverty, but the diligent hand brings wealth; the one who gathers in summer is a wise son, while the one who sleeps through harvest causes shame (10:4-5). Faithful, timely work is honored.
- The wicked are swept away when the whirlwind passes, their years shortened and their hope perishing, while the righteous stand firm forever, their prospect joy and their days prolonged (10:25, 27-28).
- Personal: invite members to examine their habits of speech, gossip, slander, careless words, or the failure to speak life. Encourage them to choose words that feed and bless others.
- Personal: encourage members to practice covering offenses with love rather than nursing grievances. Invite them to name a specific relationship where overlooking a wrong could replace stirred-up strife.