18 Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.
19 In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips 'is' wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous 'is' chosen silver, The heart of the wicked—as a little thing. 21 The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.
22 The blessing of Jehovah—it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it.
23 To execute inventions 'is' as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
24 The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given. 25 As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So 'is' the slothful to those sending him.
27 The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous 'is' joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.
29 The way of Jehovah 'is' strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth.
31 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!
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.