Pr 10:1-32.
Here begins the second part of the book,
Pr 10:1-22:16,
which, with the third,
Pr 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
Pr 10:1-15:33
are mostly antithetic; and those of
Pr 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.
1. 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
Pr 4:17;
Mt 6:19).
righteousness--especially beneficence
(Ps 112:9).
death--the greatest of all evils.
3. (Compare
Ps 37:16-20).
The last clause is better: "He will repel the greedy desires of the
wicked."
4. slack--literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare
Ho 7:16).
maketh rich--(compare
Pr 10:22).
5. son--as
Pr 1:8, 10,
and often.
sleepeth--in indolence, and not for rest.
causeth shame--literally, "is base" (compare
Pr 14:35; 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; 10:7;
Ro 3:14),
and hence has no praises (compare
Pr 10:11).
7. blessed--literally, "for a blessing," or praise.
shall rot--literally, "be worm-eaten," useless and disgusting.
8. wise, &c.--(compare
Pr 9:8, 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
(Pr 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
(Joh 7:37, 38).
On last clause, see on
Pr 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--
(Pr 6:32; 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"
(1Ti 6:17),
or by the evils of poverty
(Pr 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
(Pr 3:18; 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
Pr 10:11, 17;
Ho 4:6).
22. it maketh, &c.--"it" is emphatic. Riches from God are without the
sorrow of ill-gotten wealth (compare
Ec 2:21-23;
1Ti 6:9, 10, 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.
Proverbs 10 Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
Pr 10:1-32. Here begins the second part of the book, Pr 10:1-22:16, which, with the third, Pr 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 Pr 10:1-15:33 are mostly antithetic; and those of Pr 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.
1. 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 Pr 4:17; Mt 6:19).
righteousness--especially beneficence (Ps 112:9).
death--the greatest of all evils.
3. (Compare Ps 37:16-20). The last clause is better: "He will repel the greedy desires of the wicked."
4. slack--literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare Ho 7:16).
maketh rich--(compare Pr 10:22).
5. son--as Pr 1:8, 10, and often.
sleepeth--in indolence, and not for rest.
causeth shame--literally, "is base" (compare Pr 14:35; 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; 10:7; Ro 3:14), and hence has no praises (compare Pr 10:11).
7. blessed--literally, "for a blessing," or praise.
shall rot--literally, "be worm-eaten," useless and disgusting.
8. wise, &c.--(compare Pr 9:8, 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 (Pr 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 (Joh 7:37, 38). On last clause, see on Pr 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-- (Pr 6:32; 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" (1Ti 6:17), or by the evils of poverty (Pr 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 (Pr 3:18; 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 Pr 10:11, 17; Ho 4:6).
22. it maketh, &c.--"it" is emphatic. Riches from God are without the sorrow of ill-gotten wealth (compare Ec 2:21-23; 1Ti 6:9, 10, 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; 37:9, 10, 36).
righteous . . . foundation--well laid and firm (Mt 7:24, 25).
26. that is, causes vexation.
27. (Compare Pr 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 (Ho 14:9).
30. (Compare Pr 12:3; Ps 37:9-11; 102:28).
earth--or, "land of promise."
31. bringeth forth--literally, "germinates" as a plant.
froward--(Compare Pr 2:12, 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.