PROVERBS 10 - Proverbs of Solomon 

OVERVIEW

This first chapter of Solomon’s proverbs touches on many varied facts of life  <R1795>

• Choices we make necessarily affect others, not just ourselves (Prov 10:1)

• Wealth gained by wicked means can never provide security (Prov 10:2-3)

• Hard work is rewarded, and so is laziness (Prov 10:4-5)

• Goodness brings lasting blessing, wickedness does not (Prov 10:6-7)

• It’s better to listen than to blither on without paying attention (Prov 10:8)

• The person with nothing to hide has nothing to fear (Prov 10:9)

• Any act that harms others is a first step on the road to ruin (Prov 10:10)

• Our basic character is revealed in the way we treat others (Prov 10:12)

• Punishment will overtake the man whose judgment is poor (Prov 10:13)

• Discretion calls for thinking before speaking (Prov 10:14)

• Wealth provides a measure of security, but wealth unjustly gained provides only disaster (Prov 10:15-16)

• The teachable man is the best teacher (Prov 10:17)

• The problem with hatred is that it corrupts the one who hates (Prov 10:18)

• Words are important; be careful how you use them (Prov 10:19-21)

• God’s blessing is the only true wealth (Prov 10:22)

• What a person enjoys reveals his character (Prov 10:23)

• The fears and insecurity experienced by the wicked are well-founded (Prov 10:24-25)

• How frustrating it is to work with a lazy person (Prov 10:26)

• The confidence of the righteous is well-founded (Prov 10:27-30)

• The words of a righteous person are both wise and helpful (Prov 10:31-32)

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Children who display wisdom bring joy to their parents; conversely, foolish children are often the ruin of their parents

Proverbs 10:1 NIV

[1] The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Proverbs 14:26 NIV

[26] Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.

Proverbs 15:5-6 NIV

[5] A fool spurns a parent's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. [6] The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

Proverbs 15:20 NIV

[20] A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 17:6 NIV

[6] Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:21 NIV

[21] To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

Proverbs 17:25 NIV

[25] A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

Proverbs 19:13 NIV

[13] A foolish child is a father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

** There are definite rewards for our righteousness and penalties for the wicked that include life and death

Proverbs 10:2,6 NIV

[2] Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. [6] Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:16-17 NIV

[16] The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. [17] Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Proverbs 10:22 NIV

[22] The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

Proverbs 10:27 NIV

[27] The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

Proverbs 13:21,25 NIV

[21] Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things. [25] The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Proverbs 14:11,14 NIV

[11] The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. [14] The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.

Proverbs 20:7 NIV

[7] The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.

Proverbs 24:15-16 NIV

[15] Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place; [16] for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

Proverbs 27:18 NIV

[18] The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.

** Solomon linked folly with laziness, while wisdom is associated with a smart work ethic and results

Proverbs 10:4-5 NIV

[4] Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. [5] He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Proverbs 10:25,30 NIV

[25] When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. [30] The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

Proverbs 14:23 NIV

[23] All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 15:19 NIV

[19] The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

Proverbs 19:15 NIV

[15] Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.

Proverbs 19:24 NIV

[24] A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

Proverbs 20:4 NIV

[4] Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

Proverbs 20:13 NIV

[13] Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

Proverbs 21:25-26 NIV

[25] The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. [26] All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

Proverbs 24:30-34 NIV

[30] I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; [31] thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. [32] I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: [33] A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--- [34] and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 26:14-16 NIV

[14] As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. [15] A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. [16] A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.

Proverbs 28:19 NIV

[19] Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

** Wisdom gives hope that can be found by the foolish and simple

Proverbs 8:1,5 NIV

[1] Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? [5] You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

Proverbs 8:17 NIV

[17] I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:34-35 NIV

[34] Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. [35] For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 9:4-6 NIV

[4] “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, [5] “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. [6] Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

Proverbs 9:12-16 NIV

[12] If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. [13] Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. [14] She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, [15] calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, [16] “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says

Proverbs 10:8,10-11 NIV

[8] The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. [10] Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin. [11] The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 19:1 NIV

[1] Better the poor whose walk is blameless

 than a fool whose lips are perverse.

** The Biblical advice on identifying a fool is clear, and suggests a nuanced approach when responding to a fool

The word 'fool' is repeated throughout Scripture and can describe one who:

• Constantly talks and is not known for listening to wisdom (Prov 10:10)

• Brings ruin (Prov 10:14)

• Utters slander (Prov 10:18)

• Claims to be right in his own eyes (Prov 12:15)

• Is associated with wickedness and denies God (Psalm 53:1), etc  <G72>

Proverbs 10:10,14,18 NIV

[10] Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin. [14] The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. [18] Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 12:15 NIV

[15] The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Psalm 53:1 NIV

[1] The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.

There are several considerations when dealing with a fool:

• Do not respond to a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him

• Expose the foolishness of the fool's arguments or actions to prevent them from mistakenly believing they are wise and correct

• Not all fools are worth engaging with, and some situations may be best handled by simply walking away

• The ability to discern when to engage and when to remain silent is a mark of wisdom  <W2201>

Proverbs 26:4-5 NIV

[4] Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. [5] Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

** HATRED is the selfish principle of an unregenerate man. It may be varnished by religion and smoothed by hypocrisy, but it is a subterranean storm, continually stirring up mischief and evil. Hatred creates or keeps alive carnal strifes. It causes coldness. It creates disharmony. It stirs up envy, malicious talk, and evil suspicions. Hatred carps at the least infirmity in others, and aggravates the least fault. Hatred resents the most trifling offense. It is provoked by the least imaginary wrong. 'An ungodly man digs up evil.' Such strifes are kindled to the great dishonor of God. They mar the beauty of the gospel. Let us resist this evil of the old man by watchfulness and prayer 'and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God'.

LOVE is the fruit of the Spirit. It covers a multitude of evils. Let us study 1 Corinthians 13 in all its detail, and make it the pattern for our lives. Let this be the mirror of our hearts and the standard of our profession. Love covers, overlooks, speedily forgives and forgets. Love invents reasons to avoid strife. Love puts the best possible construction on doubtful matters. Love seeks unity and agreement. Love does not rigidly examine a brother's failures. It will not deliberately expose a brother's faults. It refuses to uncover the sins of another.  <F67>

Proverbs 10:12 NIV

[12] Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

[32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

[8] Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

** Early childhood teaching requires discipline from both parents, including corporal punishment that comes from a balance of kindness and love  <M130>

• The Jewish people were noted for their love of children and were among the best of parents in the ancient world

• Verses advocating for corporal punishment in no way support an abusive approach to child-rearing, but instead emphasize the necessity of of discipline if boys and girls are to freely choose God’s way as adults  <R1795>

• There is great hope that the use of ‘divine ordinance’ of the rod will produce godly virtue and parental joy

Proverbs 13:24 NIV

[24] Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

Proverbs 10:13 NIV

[13] Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.

Proverbs 19:18 NIV

[18] Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.

Proverbs 23:13-16,24-25 NIV

[13] Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. [14] Punish them with the rod and save them from death. [15] My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; [16] my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. [24] The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. [25] May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!

• Such discipline must have the right motivation and appropriate severity

• One who has genuine affection for the child but withholds corporal punishment will produce the same kind of child as a parent who hates his offspring

Hebrews 12:5-11 NIV

[5] And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, [6] because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” [7] Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? [8] If you are not disciplined---and everyone undergoes discipline---then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. [9] Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! [10] They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. [11] No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Ephesians 6:4 NIV

[4] Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 17:10 NIV

[10] A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.

Proverbs 29:21 NIV

[21] A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent.

Proverbs 29:15,17 NIV

[15] A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. [17] Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.

** Most everyone has heard the motto 'evil does not pay'

• Well, evil certainly doesn't pay when considering the eternal punishment waiting for those who are determined to live by it

• King Solomon recognized that evil doesn't pay while living in this world, calling evil-filled lives 'meaningless' and 'grievous'

• Followers of Christ are to live as God desires, focussing on what is good and choosing life!

Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 NIV

[1] I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: [2] God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

Proverbs 10:16 NIV

[16] The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.

James 4:4 NIV

[4] You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Deuteronomy 5:33 NIV

[33] Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

** Solomon linked wisdom with the avoidance of slander and gossiping; the destruction of gossip is severe

Proverbs 10:18-19 NIV

[18] Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. [19] Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

Proverbs 10:21,23 NIV

[21] The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. [23] A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

Proverbs 10:31-32 NIV

[31] From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced. [32] The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Proverbs 11:9,11-13 NIV

[9] With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. [11] Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. [12] Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. [13] A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Proverbs 16:28-30 NIV

[28] A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. [29] A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. [30] Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

Proverbs 17:4 NIV

[4] A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Proverbs 18:8 NIV

[8] The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

[21] The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 20:19 NIV

[19] A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.

Proverbs 26:20-22 NIV

[20] Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. [21] As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. [22] The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

** The righteous will inherit the land after Christ's second coming  <T2093>

Proverbs 10:30 NIV

[30] The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.