Proverbs 10
Hatred and patience, gossip, lying, value of work
Text
Explanation
This begins a new section of a variety of short sayings: "Proverbs of Solomon."
Many of them are in the antithetical Hebrew poetic form.
Such "poems" are very short and show sharp contrasts between members of a pair.
.1  The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
 2  Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
.3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 
  1 - Wise son ... foolish son Illustrating the type of poems described above. pr1301, pr1520.
  2 - Righteousness See mt2540ff.
  3 - Righteous [not] to famish Or "the righteous will not starve." is3315f, mt0633. Those who reject God's way, reject His blessing. hg0105ff.
  3 - Substance Hebrew hawwah. See it as "mischievous desire" in mi0703 and probably should be that here. Also "naughtiness" in pr1106.
 4  He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
 5  He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
 6  Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
  5 - Sleepeth The word indicates a sound sleep.
  6 - Violence covereth The clause may also read "The mouth of the wicked hides violence."
.7  The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
 8  The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 
.9  He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
.10  He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. 
.11  The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
  7 - Memory Good people are remembered with pleasure ps07217.
  8 - Prating fool Literally "a fool of lips." We may guard against speaking without listening.
  10 - Winketh The wink may indicate deception pr0613.
  11 - Well Or "fountain." ps03609, je0213, jn0414.
 12  Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
.13  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. 
 14  Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
 15  The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
 16  The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
  15 - Poor Hebrew dallim. Poor by the way they are treated rather than by lack of money. In contrast to the strong city, we may see that the rich "destroy" the poor in the sense of keeping them in poverty. This is our world today ja0504.

Often only the first verse of a passage is shown in the link. Thus in James 5, read beyond verse 4.

 17  He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. 
 18  He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
.19  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
.20  The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 
.22  The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
 23  It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
 24  The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
  17 - He is in the way The words "is in" were supplied by the translators. Without them we may read, "The man who keeps instruction is a way to life." He thus guides others.
  17 - He that refuseth The word "erreth" is causative according to the Hebrew grammar. Thus one who rejects reproof causes others to err (do wrong).
  18 - Lying lips Or " He who conceals hatred has lying lips" (RSV)
  19 - Multitude of words Sometimes many words are okay but often not appreciated. "Wanteth not" in modern English is "has." ec0501, mt1236, ja0302.
  22 - Blessing None of us would have anything without God. hg0105, mal0308. "Addeth no sorrow" assumes the person is righteous. Even in hardship we may have peace ph0407, ec0518.
.25 As the whirlwind [storm] passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
.26  As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
.27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 
 28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
  27 - Prolongeth days Of course the promise is conditional on lifestyle and some people are stronger and less effected by bad habits. These may live even longer with proper lifestyle. ps09116, ex2012, pr0911, ps10717.
  28 - Hope Defined as "joyous expectation" re2104.
  28 - Expectation of the wicked Sinners train themselves to expect the unreasonable. ec0811, ro0204, 2pe0309.
 29  The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
  29 - Strength Hebrew ma'oz, a place or way of refuge. ps09102, jb0110.
.31  The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward [disobedient or willful] tongue shall be cut out.
 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
  31 - Bringeth forth Or "buds with." mt0717, mt0516.
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