ProverbsChapter 10

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The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son is his mother's grief.

Treasures gained by wickedness are worthless, but righteousness rescues from death.

The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

A slack hand brings poverty, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

Whoever gathers in summer is a wise son; whoever sleeps through the harvest is a son who brings shame.

Blessings rest on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

The wise in heart accepts instruction, but the babbling fool comes to ruin.

Whoever walks in integrity walks in safety, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

Whoever winks the eye causes pain, and the babbling fool comes to ruin.^f The second line repeats verse 8; some ancient witnesses read: but one who reproves openly makes peace.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

On the lips of the discerning wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.

The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; poverty is the ruin of the poor.

The wages of the righteous lead to life; the gain of the wicked leads to sin.

Whoever heeds discipline is on the path to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Many words are never free of sin, but whoever holds back his lips is wise.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little.

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.

The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and toil adds nothing to it.^f Or: and he adds no sorrow with it.

Doing wrong is sport to a fool, but wisdom is the delight of a man of understanding.

What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

When the storm has passed, the wicked is gone, but the righteous stands on an everlasting foundation.

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

The hope of the righteous ends in joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless, but ruin to those who do evil.

The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked knows only what is perverse.

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Summary2

Chapter 10

Main Theme: The chapter contrasts the lives of the righteous and the wicked through a collection of independent proverbs.

Content: Proverbs 10 marks the beginning of Solomon's collection of proverbs and consists of antithetic parallelisms that set wisdom against folly, righteousness against godlessness. The power of speech is a recurring theme—the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, while the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Diligence is praised over laziness, and the Lord's blessing is presented as the source of lasting wealth. Love covers transgressions, while hatred stirs up strife.

Key Words/Images:

Righteous/Wicked (צַדִּיק/רָשָׁע): The fundamental contrast that structures the entire chapter—the righteous stand as an eternal foundation, while the wicked perish like a storm.
Mouth/Lips/Tongue: The speech of the righteous is like refined silver and a fountain of life; the lips of the fool lead to destruction.
The Lord's Blessing (בִּרְכַּת יְהוָה): The source of wealth without toil accompanying it; reverence for God prolongs life.
Diligence and Laziness: The diligent hand brings wealth; the lazy person is like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Proverbs 10

Key Concepts

Chapter 10 marks the beginning of the so-called "Solomonic main collection" (10:1–22:16), which differs literarily from the preceding chapters by consisting of short, individual proverbs rather than longer discourses. The Hebrew word māshāl (מָשָׁל, "proverb") in verse 1 denotes a concise, poetic statement that compares or contrasts two situations—a feature that characterizes the entire chapter through repeated antitheses between "the righteous" (tsaddiq, צַדִּיק) and "the wicked" (rāshā', רָשָׁע).

The term tsedāqāh (צְדָקָה, "righteousness") in verse 2 carries a broader meaning than the modern Norwegian word. In wisdom literature, it encompasses both upright conduct, generosity toward the poor, and faithfulness to God's covenant. The idea that righteousness "saves from death" reflects the Old Testament understanding that moral living led to blessing and long life.

Events and Customs

Several verses in this chapter refer to the annual rhythm of an agricultural society. Verse 10 contrasts the one who gathers during summer (qayits, קַיִץ) with the one who sleeps during harvest (qātsir, קָצִיר). In ancient Israel, grain ripened from April to June, and the grape harvest took place in August–September. Sleeping during harvest meant not only laziness but direct economic disaster for the entire household, since the crop had to be gathered quickly before the rainy season began.

The expression "winks with the eye" (qōrēts 'ayin, קֹרֵץ עַיִן) in verse 10 describes a form of nonverbal communication that signaled deceit or hidden motives. This was known throughout the ancient Near East as a sign of unreliability and falsehood.

People

No known people in this chapter.

Key words10

Wisdom — The ability to think and act with understanding, insight, and sound judgment, regarded as a virtue in the book of Proverbs.
Understanding — The capacity to evaluate situations and people in a wise and intelligent manner, enabling one to make good decisions and avoid problems.
Righteousness — The principle of acting rightly and morally, both toward oneself and others. Righteous people follow God's laws and principles.
Unrighteousness — Actions or attitudes that contradict God's laws and principles, leading to injustice and harm for others.
Discipline — Training and instruction aimed at correcting and guiding a person to live a righteous and moral life.
Work — The effort and commitment required to achieve results and goals. Work is valued in the book of Proverbs, as it leads to success and prosperity.
Slothfulness — A lack of initiative and willingness to work, often leading to poverty and failure. Slothfulness is strongly criticized in the book of Proverbs.
Wealth — Material goods and resources that provide financial security and prosperity. Wealth can be a blessing, but also a source of temptation and problems.
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