Proverbs 10:1-32
This chapter contains numerous short sayings that compare and contrast the speech, actions, and ways of the wicked vs those of the righteous. They aim to help us avoid wicked behaviors and embrace righteous ones by showing us how wickedness profits us nothing while righteousness makes us rich with blessings and long life. These profound sayings also enhance our discernment, helping us identify the actions of wicked people so we can be vigilant and not get tripped up by them in this sinful world.
Do you want to live a righteous life? Dive in to find out how.
Watch the Proverbs 10 video to learn more or continue reading below:
A Wise Son Makes a Glad Father (1)
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. –Proverbs 10:1
A wise son: The primary duty of a father is to impart wisdom to his children, as it is also the primary duty of the children to receive wisdom. When this happens, great joy comes to both the father and the child.
If a child can figure this out when he is young instead of waiting until he is old, wisdom will shower him with a lifetime of blessings. He will make good decisions, choose the right paths, and make a good name for himself and his family.
But this goes even deeper. If you want to know how to bring joy to your heavenly father, be wise! Study the Word of God, meditate on it, and wisdom will come to you. Otherwise, neglecting the Word will bring great sorrow to your heavenly father and your spiritual mother, the church. You don’t want that.
Follow Jesus’ example. He was the ultimate wise son, so wise that a voice came out of heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Wouldn’t it be nice to have God say the same thing about us? Wow! Could there be anything more fulfilling than that?
Proverbs 10:1 Key Takeaways:
- A wise son brings joy to his father and God.
- Foolishness grieves both earthly and spiritual parents.
- Study God’s Word to grow in wisdom
Treasures of Wickedness vs. Righteousness (2-3)
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. -Proverbs 10:2-3
Treasures of wickedness: Wealth, prestige, and power gained by defrauding instead of serving others are wicked, and no real profit is gained, while acts of righteousness are something that you can keep even in the next life to come (Revelation 14:13).
Not let the righteous soul famish: This proverb here aligns with the promise of Jesus when He said don’t worry saying, “What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink…but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31-33). If we follow God, He promises to care for all our needs.
Now, this takes faith. It takes faith to prioritize seeking the kingdom of heaven and spending time in His Word, trying to gain wisdom. Of course, we must work to provide for our families, but we shouldn’t worry or spend every minute of our time trying to earn enough money to buy food. We have to prioritize study, prayer, and serving the Lord.
Diligent Hard Work vs. Laziness (4-5)
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. -Proverbs 10:4-5
Hand of the diligent: We should strive to be hard-working in all we do, whether for an employer, working on our homesteads, or serving the Lord!
Look at what God was able to accomplish in six days! Creating the heavens and the earth in that span of time is the very definition of diligent work; nothing even comes close.
And when you think further about Genesis, God didn’t just create Adam to lie around and eat fruit off the trees all day; no, He created him to be the caretaker of the Garden He planted, the Garden of Eden. Adam’s primary purpose/calling was to work.
Moreover, throughout the Bible, we see that hard work and diligence are also expected of us, from Genesis 3 to the Parable of the Talents (Luke 19:11-27, Matthew 25:14-30). And not just physical labor, but spiritual labor too. In fact, spiritual labor is even more important than physical labor, i.e., studying God’s Word, sharing truth, blessing others, and supporting a Bible teaching ministry.
Probably the most sobering statement about spiritual work is found in Revelation 20:12, which says, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God…and they were judged according to their works.”
Man, to think that we are judged for eternity, based on our spiritual work now, makes you stop and contemplate what we should be doing for the Lord today, for we are saved by grace but judged by works.
How are your works doing?
Gathereth in summer: To gather in the summer means to gather while the food is ripe. This proverb applies to so many things in life. Life constantly presents us with opportunities to capitalize on something: a good business opportunity, a chance to build a new friendship, or an opportunity to bless someone. This proverb should be constantly in our minds to help us fight procrastination.
Let’s get it done today, before it’s too late! That’s what this is about. Do you remember when Jesus told his disciples not to say, “There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest, behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).
Don’t wait to gather the fruits of the Word until later; don’t procrastinate. Start disciplining yourself to study now, chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse, every day.
You don’t want to someday be on your deathbed looking back with all kinds of regrets about things you wish you had accomplished but never did.
Blessings of the Righteous vs. the Curse of the Wicked (6-7)
Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. -Proverbs 10:6-7
Blessings upon head: God bestows blessings upon the heads of the righteous. Look at Abraham, blessed with goods (Genesis 13:2) and so blessed that God said He would multiply his seed to be as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea (Genesis 15:5).
Memory of the just: A righteous person will be remembered in a good way, think of King David (1 Kings 15:11) or King Josiah. Their memory is blessed. But then there are those like Jeroboam whom God used as a standard of wickedness (1 Kings 15:34), along with Ahab and Jezebel (Revelation 2:20-23). Could you imagine being remembered in a way like them?
Much better to strive to be remembered like David, a just man who sought after God’s own heart.
Stability of the Wise vs. the Instability of the Fools (8-10)
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. -Proverbs 10:8-10
Walketh surely: If you’re striving to live your life according to the commandments of God, you don’t always have to worry about when and if someone will catch you for your wrongdoings. You live life confidently.
Prating fools: Unfortunately, we see all too many of these kinds of people, those who think they are too wise to have to obey commandments. Surely, they will fall; it’s only a matter of time. Blah, blah, blah. The prating fool just loves to hear himself pour foolishness out of his mouth.
Righteous Speech Gives Life, Wicked Speech Brings Destruction (11-14)
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. -Proverbs 10:11-12
Well of life: A righteous person speaks words that give life, while a wicked man speaks destructive words, words of violence towards others.
Hatred stirrers up strife: So much better to love and forgive. All hatred does is cause strife. Who wants to live a life full of conflict instead of peace?
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. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. -Proverbs 10:13-14
Rod is for the back: It would seem that fools enjoy being punished, because they do the same thing repeatedly with the same painful results.
Lay up knowledge: Laying up knowledge takes work and discipline. Imagine if our men converted some of their man caves into studies where men could meet and discuss the Word of God! Our nation would become so great that nations around the world would say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (Deut. 4:8).
Godly Riches Are A Stronghold (16-17)
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. -Proverbs 10:15
Rich man’s wealth / strong city: Wealth accumulated through hard work, diligence, and God’s blessing can be quite beneficial. Think of Joseph storing up wealth (grain) in Egypt before the seven years of famine. That wealth not only saved Egypt but also saved his own family from starvation, whereas poverty from dealing with a slack hand can lead to a person’s destruction.
Take this on a deeper level. Someone who is truly rich has accumulated wisdom from the word of God, while the poor here would be someone who hasn’t taken the time to accumulate Biblical knowledge, and it will be to their own destruction.
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. -Proverbs 10:16-17
Fruit of the wicked to sin: A righteous person labors to bring life, while a wicked person labors to bring death. Which are you?
He that refuseth reproof: Reproof is correction. Fools are so wise in their own eyes that they will not listen to any form of correction. Don’t be too proud to accept reproof.
Using Words to Help vs. Using Words to Hurt (18-21)
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. -Proverbs 10:18-21
He that uttereth a slander: Never repeat something negative about someone unless you know it to be true.
Multitude of words: Have you ever been around someone like this, someone who just has to be always saying something? This proverb is warning against being that kind of person. Talking non-stop or just talking because you feel you always have to say something leads to sin. Much better to choose your words and speak carefully.
Lips of the righteous feed many: Feed, meaning to shepherd. This is our job as Christians! Our words should be like choice silver, feeding and enriching others with the truth.
Fools Enjoy Stirring Up Trouble (22-23)
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. -Proverbs 10:22-23
Sport for a fool to do mischief: Fools enjoy stirring up some sort of trouble, provoking people, getting people upset, and then laughing, you name it. It’s a game to them, but a very non-productive and foolish one. What difference is there between someone like this and a demon? Demons love to stir up trouble; they feed off other people’s suffering.
Now, of course, there are times when we tease each other to have a good time, but we know the difference. If the other person isn’t enjoying it but you are, then stop.
Hopes of the Righteous vs. the End of the Wicked (24-30)
The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. -Proverbs 10:24-25
Fear of the wicked: Ultimately, the greatest fear of the wicked will come to pass. They will die the second death, but the righteous will be resurrected to eternal life.
As the wirlwind passeth: Wickedness will feel like a tornado that causes quick destruction but is gone. The wicked are only with us briefly; they will not be with us forever. You can count on that.
As the whirlwind passeth away. The whirlwind is terrible for the time, but not durable. Lo, such is the rage of tyrants and persecutors. Nubecula est, cito transibit, said Athanasius of the Arian persecution. Our Richard III and Queen Mary had, as the bloodiest, so the shortest reigns of any since the Conquest. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. Dioclesian, that cruel persecutor, giving over his empire, decreed to lead the rest of his life quietly,26 But he escaped not so, for after that his house was wholly consumed with lightning and a flame of fire that fell from heaven. He, hiding himself for fear of the lightning, died within a little while after. “Then terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night. The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; and, as a storm, hurleth him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place,” as Job elegantly and emphatically sets it forth (Prov. 26:20-23). – John Trapp
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. -Proverbs 10:26-27
So is the sluggard: It’s painful to watch a sluggard continually try to get out of work. Never made sense to me. It takes more effort to avoid work than to do it. Why not just do it and feel good about it, rather than tormenting yourself?
Years of the wicked shall be shortened: Living a life contrary to God’s commandments can shorten your life. Wickedness can lead to death by disease, careless accidents, the death penalty, or even life in prison.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. -Proverbs 10:28-30
All of the hopes and expectations of the wicked, those not obeying the laws of God, will not be fulfilled; they will not inherit the earth, but instead will inherit everlasting death.
The Froward Tongue vs. The Fruitful Tongue (31-32)
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. -Proverbs 10:31-32
Tongue shall be cut out: We had better watch what comes out of our mouths.
Mouth of the just bringeth forth: The righteous person’s mouth buds forth like a fruit tree, like a tree that gives life!
There we have it, a chapter full of short, catchy sayings, proverbs, that help righteously govern our lives, with wisdom, rather than in a wicked way with foolishness. Apply these sayings to your life and be blessed!