18 Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander.
19 The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.
20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless. 21 The talk of a good person is rich fare for many, but chatterboxes die of an empty heart. Fear-of-God Expands Your Life
22 God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.
23 An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
24 The nightmares of the wicked come true; what the good people desire, they get. 25 When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.
26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it's vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
27 The Fear-of-God expands your life; a wicked life is a puny life. 28 The aspirations of good people end in celebration; the ambitions of bad people crash.
29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life, but he calls into question a shabby performance. 30 Good people last - they can't be moved; the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.
31 A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp. 32 The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 10:18-32
Commentary on Proverbs 10:18
(Read Proverbs 10:18)
He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:19
(Read Proverbs 10:19)
Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise man, and therein consults his own peace.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:20-21
(Read Proverbs 10:20-21)
The tongue of the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:22
(Read Proverbs 10:22)
That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:23
(Read Proverbs 10:23)
Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:24
(Read Proverbs 10:24)
The largest desire of eternal blessings the righteous can form, will be granted.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:25
(Read Proverbs 10:25)
The course of prosperous sinners is like a whirlwind, which soon spends itself, and is gone.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:26
(Read Proverbs 10:26)
As vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and as the smoke causes the eyes to smart, so the sluggard vexes his employer.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:27-28
(Read Proverbs 10:27-28)
What man is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure to him life enough in this world, and eternal life in the other.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:29
(Read Proverbs 10:29)
The believer grows stronger in faith, and obeys with increased delight.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:30
(Read Proverbs 10:30)
The wicked would be glad to have this earth their home for ever, but it cannot be so. They must die and leave all their idols behind.
Commentary on Proverbs 10:31-32
(Read Proverbs 10:31-32)
A good man discourses wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.