Proverbs · chapter 10 of 31
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Proverbs 10 begins the collection of Solomon's short proverbs. Its two-line sayings contrast the wise and the foolish, the diligent and the lazy, and the righteous and the wicked, with special attention to the power of words, the value of work, the love that covers offenses and the fear of the Lord that prolongs life.
With chapter 10 the style of the book changes. The father's discourses of chapters 1 to 9 give way to a long collection of short proverbs, attributed to Solomon, that runs to 22:16. There is no longer a narrative thread: each verse is an independent saying, and most of those in this chapter work by contrast. For that reason it is best read by topic and not verse by verse.
The chapter opens with a saying about the family: a wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother (v. 1). Sayings about work and wealth follow. Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death, and the Lord does not let the righteous go hungry (vv. 2-3). A slack hand brings poverty but the hand of the diligent makes rich; he who gathers in summer is a prudent son, and he who sleeps in harvest brings shame (vv. 4-5). The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot (vv. 6-7).
A large group of proverbs concerns words. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (v. 11). Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses (v. 12). The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near (v. 14). Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool (v. 18). When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent (v. 19). The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, and his lips feed many (vv. 20-21).
Other sayings deal with wealth, laziness and the fear of the Lord. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it (v. 22). Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him (v. 26). The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short (v. 27).
The chapter ends with the destiny of the righteous and the wicked: the hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish (v. 28). The righteous will never be removed (v. 30). The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off (v. 31).
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
A slack hand brings poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. The proverb teaches that steady work is part of wisdom, although other texts make clear that poverty is not always due to laziness.
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. To cover does not mean to hide or deny the wrong, but to forgive and not publicize what hurts. The New Testament takes up this idea in 1 Peter 4:8.
Where words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The proverb does not praise empty silence but the discipline of speaking with measure, since one who talks a lot has more chances to go wrong.
The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Like all proverbs, it is a general principle: a life lived in reverence toward God is usually longer and healthier than one lived without him.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: A wise son makes a glad father; a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. — Proverbs 10:1
Answer: The slack hand brings poverty and the diligent hand makes rich. — Proverbs 10:4
Answer: Love covers all offenses; hatred stirs up strife. — Proverbs 10:12
Answer: Transgression is not lacking; the prudent restrain their lips. — Proverbs 10:19
Answer: Vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes. — Proverbs 10:26
Answer: It prolongs them, while the years of the wicked are cut short. — Proverbs 10:27
Proverbs 10 invites us to review three areas: work, words and our attitude toward God. At work, the text values steadiness and responsibility, and can encourage us to do what is expected of us without putting it off. With words, there are two challenges: to speak less when that avoids sin, and to use the tongue to give life and feed others.
The verse about love covering offenses is an invitation to forgive and not to fan conflicts. In a group you can talk about an offense that is hard to let go and how to ask God for the grace to cover it with love. And since proverbs are general principles and not automatic promises, we can read them with humility and with confidence that God is just even when we do not see every result.
Proverbs 10 opens the collection of Solomon's sayings with its contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, the diligent and the lazy. In chapter 11 the themes of honesty, humility and generosity take a central place, and contrasts keep guiding the reading.
Each verse is an independent saying that expresses a general principle of life, not a promise that always works out the same way. It is best read by topics, comparing the sayings with one another and taking into account the rest of the Bible, which balances each proverb.
It means that whoever loves is willing to forgive and not go about publicizing or recalling the mistakes of others, instead of provoking quarrels over them. It does not ask us to approve of evil or to be silent when correction is needed, but to act with forgiveness and mercy.