# Proverbs 10 📖: Solomon's Proverbs Begin [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Proverbs Overview]] | [[Proverbs 09]] | [[Proverbs 11]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### The Proverbs of Solomon [[#Verse 01.]] The proverbs of Solomon:A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother. [[#Verse 02.]] Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. [[#Verse 03.]] The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. [[#Verse 04.]] The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy. [[#Verse 05.]] The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son, but the one who sleeps during harvest is a shameful son. [[#Verse 06.]] Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence. [[#Verse 07.]] The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot. [[#Verse 08.]] The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin. [[#Verse 09.]] The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out. [[#Verse 10.]] The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin. [[#Verse 11.]] The speech of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence. [[#Verse 12.]] Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions. [[#Verse 13.]] Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks sense will be disciplined. [[#Verse 14.]] Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction. [[#Verse 15.]] The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty. [[#Verse 16.]] The reward that the righteous receive is life; the recompense that the wicked receive is judgment. [[#Verse 17.]] The one who heeds instruction is on the way to life, but the one who rejects rebuke goes astray. [[#Verse 18.]] The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool. [[#Verse 19.]] When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise. [[#Verse 20.]] What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value. [[#Verse 21.]] The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of sense. [[#Verse 22.]] The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it. [[#Verse 23.]] Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment. [[#Verse 24.]] What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted. [[#Verse 25.]] When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation. [[#Verse 26.]] Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. [[#Verse 27.]] Fearing the Lord prolongs life, but the life span of the wicked will be shortened. [[#Verse 28.]] The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked perishes. [[#Verse 29.]] The way of the Lord is like a stronghold for the upright, but it is destruction to evildoers. [[#Verse 30.]] The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not inhabit the land. [[#Verse 31.]] The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed. [[#Verse 32.]] The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ###### Verse 28. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ###### Verse 31. ###### Verse 32. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts - Proverbs 10 begins the “Proverbs of Solomon” section, characterized by short, stand-alone sayings. - The chapter features many parallelisms—contrasting the righteous and the wicked in areas like speech, work, and outcomes. - This is one of the most densely packed chapters in terms of practical wisdom per verse. - The repetition of themes (e.g., speech, diligence, integrity) indicates what Solomon considered vital for wise living. - It introduces the idea that wise words are a “fountain of life,” a metaphor that Jesus later echoes in John 4 and 7. 1. Proverbs 10:1 opens with a new heading, "The proverbs of Solomon," beginning the main collection of the book (10:1-22:16). 2. Many scholars note that this collection contains 375 proverbs, which is the numerical value of the Hebrew letters in Solomon's name. 3. Most proverbs in chapters 10 to 15 are contrasts: the second line turns with "but" to show the opposite. 4. Proverbs 10:12 is echoed in 1 Peter 4:8 and James 5:20: love covers a multitude of sins. 5. The main collection opens with family: a wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother (10:1). 6. Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death (10:2). 7. Verse 5 uses farm life: the wise son gathers in summer, but the shameful son sleeps during harvest. 8. The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow to it (10:22). 9. A lazy worker is compared to vinegar on the teeth and smoke in the eyes (10:26). 10. The fear of the Lord adds length to life (10:27). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary **Main Teaching**: Proverbs 10 begins the second section of the book, shifting to short, contrasting sayings about the righteous and the wicked. It highlights how wisdom affects speech, work ethic, wealth, and relationships. **How It Fits in Proverbs**: This chapter marks the beginning of Solomon’s proverbs proper, offering practical wisdom in bite-sized form. It repeatedly contrasts wise versus foolish living to reinforce the blessings of righteousness. **Apologetic Insight**: Proverbs 10 supports a worldview rooted in divine justice—that choices have real, moral consequences. It challenges the belief that outcomes in life are random or disconnected from one’s values and behavior. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the righteous One whose words are life. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (10:11), and Jesus said His words are spirit and life (John 6:63). Love covers all offenses (10:12), and His love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application - 📌 The righteous and the wicked are consistently contrasted in outcome and behavior. - 📌 Wise speech is valuable and life-giving, while foolish talk causes harm. - 📌 Diligence brings reward; laziness leads to poverty. #### Today, I can apply this chapter by: - ✅ Speak words that build others up instead of tearing them down. - ✅ Be diligent in your work today—don’t waste time or cut corners. - ✅ Practice honesty in every conversation and transaction. - ✅ Choose righteousness even when no one is watching. - ✅ Observe how your words affect others and adjust your speech to reflect godly wisdom. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Chapter 10 begins the short, two-line proverbs. Why do you think God gave us wisdom in short, memorable sayings? 2. Many verses here are about words (10:11, 19, 20, 31-32). Which of these proverbs about speech do you most need to put into practice? 3. Love covers all offenses (10:12). What is the difference between covering an offense in love and ignoring sin? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 9: The one who walks with integrity walks securely, but the one who takes crooked paths will be found out. - 📖 verse 12: Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. - 📖 verse 19: When words are many, sin is not absent, but the one who restrains his lips is wise. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[Matthew 07#Verse 17.|Matthew 7:17-20]] - A tree is known by its fruit. - 🔗 [[Galatians 05#Verse 22.|Galatians 5:22-23]] - The fruit of the Spirit. - 🔗 [[Romans 12#Verse 09.|Romans 12:9]] - Love must be genuine; hold fast to what is good. - 🔗 [[1 Peter 04#Verse 08.|1 Peter 4:8]] - Love covers a multitude of sins. - 🔗 [[John 06#Verse 63.|John 6:63]] - Jesus' words are spirit and life. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 📂 Internal Notes