Proverbs 10
Proverbs 10 begins the section of Solomon’s proverbs, offering wisdom through contrasting parallelisms—where righteousness is rewarded, and wickedness brings consequences. The chapter highlights how wisdom impacts every aspect of life, from speech and work to relationships and wealth, guiding readers toward a life of righteousness.
Proverbs 10:1 (NKJV)
1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
Parents find joy in their children’s wise decisions, while foolish actions bring sorrow and disappointment. The verse emphasizes the impact of a child’s behavior on their parents' emotional well-being, urging wisdom to avoid bringing grief.
Proverbs 10:2 (NKJV)
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.
Ill-gotten gains offer no lasting benefit. Only righteousness, living in alignment with God’s moral laws, brings true protection and deliverance from ultimate destruction. Material wealth cannot save in times of judgment, but righteousness secures life.
Proverbs 10:3 (NKJV)
3 The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.
God provides for the needs of the righteous, ensuring they are not left destitute, while the cravings of the wicked are denied. Trusting God’s provision is the path to security, as He rewards faithfulness.
Proverbs 10:4 (NKJV)
4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Laziness leads to poverty, while diligence brings prosperity. This is a practical lesson on the value of hard work and its rewards. Diligence opens the door to success, while idleness leads to lack.
Proverbs 10:5 (NKJV)
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
Taking advantage of opportunities at the right time shows wisdom, while neglecting responsibility during critical moments brings shame. This illustrates the importance of acting diligently and wisely in the right season.
Proverbs 10:6 (NKJV)
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
The righteous are rewarded with blessings, while the wicked are marked by violence. This contrast shows how godly living leads to favor, while wickedness leads to harmful consequences, including self-destruction.
Proverbs 10:7 (NKJV)
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
The legacy of the righteous is honored and remembered positively, while the wicked leave behind a legacy of disgrace that fades away. A righteous life leaves an eternal mark, but the wicked are quickly forgotten.
Proverbs 10:8 (NKJV)
8 The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall.
Wise individuals listen and accept guidance, while those who speak foolishly without consideration are headed for ruin. Wisdom is shown through a willingness to learn, while empty talk leads to downfall.
Proverbs 10:9 (NKJV)
9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.
Living with integrity brings security and confidence, while those who live deceitfully will eventually be exposed. Honesty and uprightness are shields, while dishonesty leads to eventual disgrace.
Proverbs 10:10 (NKJV)
10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble, but a prating fool will fall.
Subtle gestures of deceit, like winking to signal lies, stir up trouble, and foolish talk leads to self-destruction. Both subtle deception and foolishness bring trouble to oneself and others.
Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV)
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
The speech of the righteous brings life, encouragement, and guidance to others, while the wicked's words are harmful and destructive. A righteous person’s words nourish and build, but wicked words destroy.
Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV)
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.
Hatred causes conflict and division, while love brings forgiveness and peace. This teaches the power of love to heal and restore relationships, contrasting with the destructive nature of hatred.
Proverbs 10:13 (NKJV)
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
Those with understanding speak wisdom, but those who lack it face consequences, often in the form of correction or discipline. Wisdom helps avoid trouble, while foolishness leads to punishment.
Proverbs 10:14 (NKJV)
14 Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
The wise seek and retain knowledge, preparing for future challenges, while fools speak without thinking, leading to their own ruin. Storing wisdom brings long-term benefits, while foolishness brings immediate harm.
Proverbs 10:15 (NKJV)
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Wealth can provide security for the rich, but for the poor, their lack of resources leaves them vulnerable. While this speaks of material security, the deeper lesson is that true security comes from wisdom, not riches alone.
Proverbs 10:16 (NKJV)
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.
Righteous labor results in life and sustenance, while the wicked use their earnings for sinful purposes. The outcomes of work depend on the character of the person, leading either to life or further moral decay.
Proverbs 10:17 (NKJV)
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.
Accepting instruction leads to life, while rejecting correction leads to a path of ruin. This reinforces the value of being teachable and willing to grow through guidance.
Proverbs 10:18 (NKJV)
18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
Harboring hatred but pretending to be friendly is deceitful, and speaking ill of others behind their backs is foolish. This warns against false friendliness and the destructive nature of slander.
Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV)
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Talking excessively leads to sin, while wisdom is shown in restraint. This teaches the importance of being careful with words, as excessive speech can lead to harmful or sinful remarks.
Proverbs 10:20 (NKJV)
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little.
The words of the righteous are valuable and bring benefit, while the inner thoughts of the wicked hold little worth. This highlights the power of righteous speech to bless, contrasted with the emptiness of wickedness.
Proverbs 10:21 (NKJV)
21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.
Righteous words nourish and guide others, while fools perish because they lack the wisdom to live rightly. This underscores the life-giving power of wisdom and the self-destructive nature of foolishness.
Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV)
22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
True wealth comes from God's blessings, and it brings no sorrow. This contrasts with wealth gained through wrong means, which often brings trouble. God's blessings lead to contentment and peace.
Proverbs 10:23 (NKJV)
23 To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
Fools find pleasure in doing wrong, while those with understanding value wisdom and avoid evil. This reveals the different mindsets: fools enjoy their destructive ways, but the wise seek to live righteously.
Proverbs 10:24 (NKJV)
24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Wicked people’s fears eventually become reality, while the righteous receive what they desire—blessings from God. Fear is the consequence of a guilty conscience, while the righteous trust in God for their needs.
Proverbs 10:25 (NKJV)
25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Trouble wipes out the wicked like a storm, but the righteous endure. This shows the instability of wickedness and the solid, lasting security that righteousness provides.
Proverbs 10:26 (NKJV)
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.
Just as vinegar harms teeth and smoke irritates eyes, a lazy person causes frustration to those who rely on him. Laziness leads to disappointment and annoyance for others.
Proverbs 10:27 (NKJV)
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Reverence for God leads to a long and fulfilled life, while wickedness shortens one’s life. God blesses those who fear Him with peace and longevity, while sin hastens destruction.
Proverbs 10:28 (NKJV)
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Righteous people find joy and fulfillment in their hope, while the wicked’s expectations end in disappointment. True hope is grounded in righteousness, leading to lasting joy.
Proverbs 10:29 (NKJV)
29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
God's path gives strength and security to those who live righteously, but it leads to destruction for the wicked. The upright are empowered by God’s ways, while sin leads to ruin.
Proverbs 10:30 (NKJV)
30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
Righteousness brings eternal stability, while the wicked face ultimate removal from the earth. God’s promise secures the righteous, but the wicked’s place is temporary.
Proverbs 10:31 (NKJV)
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
The righteous speak wisdom and truth, while the deceitful are silenced. Wisdom is a mark of righteousness, while wicked speech leads to punishment and judgment.
Proverbs 10:32 (NKJV)
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
The righteous understand how to speak in ways that please God and others, while the wicked speak only what is harmful and twisted. Speech reveals the nature of one’s heart, guiding people toward wisdom or destruction.