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Proverbs 10 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. ²Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. ³The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked. ⁴Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. ⁵He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. ⁶Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. ⁷The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. ⁸A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin. ⁹He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. ¹⁰He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. ¹¹The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. ¹²Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions. ¹³Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. ¹⁴The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction. ¹⁵The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor. ¹⁶The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment. ¹⁷Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray. ¹⁸The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. ¹⁹When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. ²⁰The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. ²¹The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment. ²²The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. ²³The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom. ²⁴What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. ²⁵When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever. ²⁶Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him. ²⁷The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short. ²⁸The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish. ²⁹The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil. ³⁰The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land. ³¹The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Berean Standard Bible · public domain. More versions and languages in the Reading Plan.

Proverbs

Proverbs 10

The Wisdom of Righteousness and the Folly of the Wicked

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Objective

To reveal the stark contrasts between the righteous and the wicked through Solomon’s proverbs, highlighting the blessings of wisdom, diligence, and uprightness, and the consequences of folly, laziness, and wickedness.

Overview

Proverbs 10 opens the collection of Solomon’s wise sayings with a series of contrasts between the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked. Each proverb pairs outcomes and character traits, emphasizing the fruit of godly living and the ruin of sin. The chapter underscores the value of diligence, integrity, and reverence for the LORD, while exposing the emptiness and destruction that accompany wickedness and folly.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

The chapter begins by contrasting a wise son who brings joy to his father with a foolish son who burdens his mother with sorrow. This opening sets the tone for the entire chapter—wisdom brings life and gladness, folly brings heaviness and grief.

Central Themes

Wisdom as a source of familial blessing

Folly as a cause of sorrow and shame

Cultural & Historical Context

In ancient Israelite society, family honor and reputation were deeply valued. A child’s character reflected on the parents, affecting their social standing and emotional well-being.

Key Verse

Proverbs 10:1

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

The Son’s Wisdom and Family Impact

A father’s face lighting with joy as his son listens attentively, contrasted with a mother’s bowed head weighed down by a son’s careless folly.

Righteousness Versus Wickedness: True Profit and Provision

A treasure chest filled with fading shadows dissolving into dust, beside a radiant path leading to a secure, flourishing city bathed in light.

Diligence and Wisdom in Labor

A farmer gathering golden sheaves under a blazing sun, while another sleeps under a tree, the harvest slipping away like sand through fingers.

Blessings and Memory of the Just Versus the Wicked

A crowned figure standing tall on a mountain of light, their name inscribed in gold; opposite a shadowed figure fading into decay and dust.

The Wise Heart and Upright Walk

A steady traveler walking a bright, straight road under a clear sky, while a twisted path leads another into darkness and ruin.

Speech: Life and Death in the Tongue

A wellspring of clear water flowing from a man’s mouth, nourishing a vibrant garden; contrasted with a mouth spewing smoke and thorns that wither the earth.

Wisdom, Understanding, and Instruction

An ancient scroll glowing with golden letters, held by a reverent hand, while shadows of destruction loom over a crumbling tower in the distance.

The Folly of Mischief and the Consequences of Wickedness

A whirlwind tearing through a village of broken houses, while a man sits idle, sour-faced and rejected, surrounded by smoke and vinegar clouds.

The Blessing of the LORD

A radiant crown of light descending from heaven upon a peaceful city founded on rock, while shadows flee beneath its walls.

Song

Proverbs 10 Song

Verse 1

A wise son brings his father joy, a foolish one brings grief and pain, In every choice, the heart reveals the harvest we will gain.

Verse 2

The upright walk with steady steps, the fool’s tongue leads to fall, Hatred stirs the strife and war, but love will cover all. Wisdom stores the knowledge deep, the understanding grows, The fear of God prolongs our days, and strength to life bestows.

Chorus

Righteousness delivers, treasures fade away, The diligent hand grows rich, the lazy wastes the day. Blessings crown the just, their memory shines bright, But wickedness decays in darkness and in blight.

Bridge

The LORD’s blessing makes us rich, with no sorrow to attend, The wicked’s hopes shall perish, but the righteous never end. From words that heal to paths that guide, the wise man’s life is sure, In every step and every breath, His truth will still endure.

Final Chorus

Practical Application

Personal Life

Pursue diligence and integrity in your daily work, knowing that God honors faithful effort.

Guard your speech, using words to build life and love rather than strife and destruction.

Cultivate a heart that fears the LORD, receiving instruction and wisdom humbly.

Community & Society

Encourage and honor those who walk uprightly, fostering a culture of righteousness and blessing.

Address laziness and folly with loving correction, promoting responsibility and diligence.

Promote reconciliation and love to cover offenses, building peace within the community.

Global Perspective

Recognize that true prosperity and stability come from righteousness, not mere wealth or power.

Support systems and leaders that uphold justice, wisdom, and care for the vulnerable.

Proclaim the enduring hope and blessing found in the fear of the LORD to a world in turmoil.

Conclusion

Proverbs 10 sets before us a vivid tableau of two ways: the way of righteousness leading to life, blessing, and lasting honor, and the way of wickedness culminating in loss, shame, and destruction. Solomon’s wisdom calls us to choose diligence over sloth, truth over deceit, love over hatred, and reverence for God over folly. In these contrasts, the path of life is clear—the fear of the LORD and obedience to His commands bring enduring riches that no earthly treasure can match.