1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a father rejoice, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. 2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. 3Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but He thrusts away the desire of the wicked. 4He who works with a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5He who gathers in summer is a prudent son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. 6Blessings are upon the head of the just, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 7The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8The wise in heart accepts commands, but the foolish of lips shall be thrown down. 9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways shall be found out. 10He who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but the foolish of lips shall be thrown down. 11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions. 13Wisdom is found in the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks heart. 14The wise treasure up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool is near destruction. 15The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16The labor of the righteous is life; the gain of the wicked is sin. 17He who heeds instruction is in the way of life, but he who forsakes reproof wanders. 18He who hides hatred with lying lips, and he who sends out a slander, is a fool. 19In the abundance of words there is no end of transgression, but he who restrains his lips is prudent. 20The tongue of the just is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is as little. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of heart. 22The blessing of Jehovah, it makes rich, with no sorrow added. 23It is as jest to a fool to do wickedness; so is wisdom to a man of understanding. 24That which the wicked fears shall come upon him, but the desire of the righteous is granted. 25As the storm passes, so the wicked is no more; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26Like vinegar to the teeth, and like smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27The fear of Jehovah prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29The way of Jehovah is a refuge to the upright, but destruction to doers of iniquity. 30The righteous shall never be moved, but the wicked shall not dwell on the earth. 31The mouth of the just bears fruit with wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut off. 32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, perversities.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 Here begins the second part of the book, Pro. 10:1-22:16, which, with the third, Pro. 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 Pro. 10:1-15:33 are mostly antithetic; and those of Pro. 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. (Pro. 10:1-32)
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
Pro 4:17;
Matt 6:19).
righteousness--especially beneficence (
Ps 112:9).
death--the greatest of all evils.
3 (Compare
Ps 37:16-
Ps 37:20). The last clause is better: "He will repel the greedy desires of the wicked."
4 slack--literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare
Hos 7:16).
maketh rich--(compare
Pro 10:22).
5 son--as
Pro 1:8,
Pro 1:10, and often.
sleepeth--in indolence, and not for rest.
causeth shame--literally, "is base" (compare
Pro 14:35;
Pro 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;
Ps 10:7;
Rom 3:14), and hence has no praises (compare
Pro 10:11).
7 blessed--literally, "for a blessing," or praise.
shall rot--literally, "be worm-eaten," useless and disgusting.
8 wise, &c.--(compare
Pro 9:8-
Pro 9:9,
Pro 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 (
Pro 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 (
John 7:37-
John 7:38). On last clause, see on
Pro 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-- (
Pro 6:32;
Pro 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" (
1Tim 6:17), or by the evils of poverty (
Pro 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 (
Pro 3:18;
Pro 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
Pro 10:11,
Pro 10:17;
Hos 4:6).
22 it maketh, &c.--"it" is emphatic. Riches from God are without the sorrow of ill-gotten wealth (compare
Eccl 2:21-
Eccl 2:23;
1Tim 6:9-10,
1Tim 6:17).
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;
Ps 37:9-
Ps 37:10,
Ps 37:36).
righteous . . . foundation--well laid and firm (
Matt 7:24-
Matt 7:25).
26 that is, causes vexation.
27 (Compare
Pro 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 (
Hos 14:9).
30 (Compare
Pro 12:3;
Ps 37:9-
Ps 37:11;
Ps 102:28).
earth--or, "land of promise."
31 bringeth forth--literally, "germinates" as a plant.
froward--(Compare
Pro 2:12,
Pro 2:14).
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.