Proverbs 10

King James Version

Full text for Proverbs Chapter 10

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.

3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

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.

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.

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.

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.

21The 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.

25As the whirlwind 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.

28The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29¶ The way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.

30The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31¶ The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Proverbs 10 contrasts the paths and outcomes of the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked. It asserts that a wise son brings joy, while a foolish son causes sorrow, and that righteousness leads to life and divine favour. Conversely, wickedness yields no profit and ultimately leads to destruction and a forgotten name. The chapter emphasizes that the Lord sustains the righteous, but casts away the substance of the wicked.

Medium Summary

This chapter of Proverbs presents a series of antithetical couplets highlighting the divergent consequences of wisdom and folly, and righteousness and wickedness. It declares that a wise son brings joy to his father, while a foolish son is a grief to his mother. Righteousness is shown to deliver from death and ensure divine provision, whereas the treasures gained by wickedness are profitless. The diligent are promised riches, while the slack hand leads to poverty, and wise speech is a source of life, contrasting with the destructive words of the foolish. The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot, illustrating the lasting impact of one's character. Ultimately, the Lord's blessing brings wealth without sorrow, and the righteous are an everlasting foundation, while the wicked perish like a whirlwind.

Long Summary

Proverbs chapter 10 opens with the foundational contrast between a wise son, who brings gladness to his father, and a foolish son, who is the heaviness of his mother. The chapter then systematically unfolds numerous antitheses, primarily distinguishing the righteous from the wicked and the wise from the foolish, detailing their respective characteristics and ultimate destinies. It states that treasures of wickedness offer no profit, but righteousness delivers from death, and the Lord will not allow the righteous to famish, while the substance of the wicked is cast away. Diligence is extolled as a path to wealth, contrasting with the poverty brought by a slack hand, and gathering in summer is presented as a mark of wisdom, unlike sleeping in harvest which brings shame. The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, dispensing wisdom and acceptable words, whereas the wicked's mouth is covered by violence and speaks frowardness, leading to destruction. Hatred is identified as a stirrer of strife, while love is declared to cover all sins. Wise individuals lay up knowledge and receive commandments, walking uprightly and surely, but prating fools fall and those who pervert their ways shall be known. The blessing of the Lord is shown to bring riches without sorrow, and the fear of the Lord prolongs days, ensuring gladness for the righteous. In stark contrast, the fear of the wicked comes upon them, their expectation perishes, and their years are shortened. The chapter concludes by asserting that the righteous are an everlasting foundation, never to be removed, while the wicked are transient like a whirlwind and shall not inhabit the earth, emphasizing the enduring strength and wisdom found in the way of the Lord.

Core Concepts

  • Wisdom and FollyThe chapter frequently contrasts the wise son who brings joy and lays up knowledge with the foolish son who causes shame and whose mouth leads to destruction. Wisdom is associated with receiving commandments and understanding, while folly is marked by prating and a lack of understanding.
  • Righteousness and WickednessThis is the central dichotomy, with righteousness leading to life, divine provision, blessings, and a blessed memory, while wickedness brings no profit, is cast away by the Lord, and results in a rotting name and ultimate destruction. The righteous are an everlasting foundation, but the wicked perish.
  • Speech and its ConsequencesThe power of words is a significant theme; the mouth of the righteous is a well of life and speaks choice silver, feeding many with wisdom. Conversely, the mouth of the foolish is near destruction, and a multitude of words often leads to sin, highlighting the importance of refraining one's lips.
  • Diligence and SlothDiligence is presented as a virtue that leads to riches and success, exemplified by gathering in summer. In contrast, a slack hand leads to poverty, and a sluggard is a burden, demonstrating the negative outcomes of idleness.
  • Divine Providence and JusticeThe Lord actively sustains the righteous, ensuring they do not famish and granting their desires, while casting away the substance of the wicked. This highlights God's active role in rewarding the just and bringing judgment upon the unrighteous.
  • Lasting LegacyThe chapter emphasizes that the memory of the just is blessed and their foundation everlasting, while the name of the wicked shall rot and they shall not inhabit the earth. This underscores the enduring impact of a life lived righteously versus the transient nature of wickedness.
  • Love vs. HatredHatred is identified as a source of strife, while love is presented as a virtue that covers all sins. This brief but potent contrast highlights the destructive nature of animosity and the restorative power of love.