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 brings forth 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.
It is impossible to give summaries of such chapters as these, where almost every verse contains a separate subject. Our common version not being able to exhibit the contents as usual, simply says, "From this chapter to the five and twentieth are sundry observations upon moral virtues, and their opposite vices." In general the wise man states in this chapter the difference between the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked, the diligent and the idle. He speaks also of love and hatred, of the good and the evil tongue, or of the slanderer and the peace-maker.
INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 10
From this chapter to the "twenty fifth" are various proverbial sentences, without any very apparent connection or coherence with each other; describing righteous and wicked men; setting forth their different temper, conduct, and actions, and the fruits and effects of them. It should be observed, that frequently in the preceding chapters two persons are represented as women; one goes by the name of "Wisdom", the other is called the "foolish" woman and a "harlot"; the former is clearly to be understood of Christ; and the latter, being opposed to him, must be antichrist, the whore of Rome, and mother of harlots: now in the following part of this book two sorts of persons are spoken of; the one as wise, righteous, good, &c. and the other as foolish, wicked, &c. who are no other than the followers of Christ and antichrist; which observation is a key to the whole book.
Through the whole of the Proverbs, we are to look for somewhat beyond the first sense the passage may imply, and this we shall find to be Christ. He is the Wisdom so often spoken of in this book.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.