Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 10

Verses 1-32

Proverbs 10:1 . The Proverbs of Solomon. The nine preseding chapters may be regarded as a vestibule to the temple. Wisdom has been personified, and folly thrown into the darker shades. We have had a chain of arguments, and a succession of very expressive figures; now we shall find rings of gold, comprising a complete sense. But as the words often occur in other places, there is no need to illustrate more than where real edification can be conferred. When the sense is plain, illustration may occasion obscurity. It is often difficult to translate a proverb, without either defacing its beauty, or diminishing its force. Our school, books therefore illustrate the proverbs of one nation, by giving us wise and witty sayings of another of similar import. This method loads the pupil with a double portion of wisdom. A wise son, prudent in life, assiduous in business, and sincerely devout, causes the father’s heart to overflow with joy. He is a pillar to the family, when the parent is called away: he raises all the house to honour. But a foolish son, bringing heaviness on his mother, is the antithesis of the former character.

Proverbs 10:2 . Treasures of wickedness profit nothing. Indulging in pride and carnal pleasures, the wicked become dissipated; they often perish by unlawful pleasures, and the curse of oppression or the rust of ill-gotten gain testifies against them.

Proverbs 10:7 . The memory of the just is blessed. He dies indeed, as the smiling harvest is cut down when fully ripe; but the whole neighbourhood and the wide circle of his friends weep, as though each family had lost a father. His piety, his charities, his zeal for religion, and his universal benevolence, are treasured up in the memory of posterity as a fragrant balm. Yea, his opposers in life are afflicted at his death, because they have lost a pillar of righteousness, and the only man who faithfully warned them of their faults. Thus by faith the elders obtained a good report; and thus the holy prophets, stoned in one age, had marble sepulchres built in another.

Proverbs 10:9 . He that walketh uprightly walketh surely. He walks in piety towards God, in equity towards men. He cannot accommodate himself to the humours of the age, and the caprice of unstable friends. The times may change, but his principles are fixed.

Proverbs 10:10 . A prating fool shall fall. This clause is repeated from Proverbs 10:8; but the LXX and other Versions here read, “He that reproveth with freedom maketh peace.”

Proverbs 10:19 . In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin. What unwise person can let his tongue run for a long time, and not exaggerate both subjects and characters, or depress them far beyond the line of truth? What man can talk long in the ears of wiser men than himself, and not betray his folly? Perhaps in his long tale he is set right five or six times, yet he has courage to proceed! Perhaps he talks in anger, and then the sinfulness of his heart is discovered by his tongue. Let us learn wisdom, and then speak when we can either please or edify our friends, and when our conversation can be seasoned with the grace of every christian temper. Then the tongue of the just is as choice silver.

Proverbs 10:22 . The blessing of the Lord maketh rich. It is given to a good man, without the sorrow and anguish which the wicked have with wealth. The good man will not tempt providence to acquire riches. He naturally slides into the line of his profession as a tree takes possession of a good soil, and spreads his branches toward the skies. The streams of wealth pour into his fountain, and his cup overflows with blessings. When losses and afflictions come, he believes they are also from the Lord. Hence he smiles at a loss, and is supported under pain. But the wicked repine, blaspheme, and afflict their soul with sorrows productive of death.

Proverbs 10:25 . As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more. See Job 38:1. Psalms 58:9. This wind, in some hurricanes, carries all away that falls within its whirl. Tyranny, wars, and violence often in the same manner involve ungodly men in ruin.