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A Study of Proverbs 10
April 29, 2007
One of our members requested a study of Proverbs. The tenth chapter begins the actual proverbs. Avoid laziness. Be just and equitable. Knowledge and wisdom are the true riches. Refrain from speaking evil. Righteousness can contribute to longer life, while wickedness can shorten it. Note how Solomon learned from his father, David, by reading Psalms 37.
Bernie Parsons
A Study of Proverbs Chapter 10
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Load church of Christ on April 29, 2007
Proverbs 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.
3: The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.”
The admonitions continue: obey your father and mother and pursue righteousness.
Proverbs 10:4: “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.”
Don’t be lazy. Work while you can. Pay attention to your work.
Proverbs 10:6: “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.”
As before, avoid violence and pursue peace. Avoid wickedness, and live righteously. Be honest and straightforward. Those who live otherwise shall fall.
Proverbs 10:12: “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
James 5:20: “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8: “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
Hatred is a fleshly abomination. Love allows for mercy and forgiveness.
Proverbs 10:13: “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.”
Colossians 2:1: “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2: That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3: In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Wise men store knowledge as a treasure. The foolish call destruction upon themselves.
Proverbs 10:15: “The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.”
James 2:5: “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6: But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?”
James 5:1: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2: Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3: Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4: Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5: Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6: Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.”
Rich men count on wealth to deliver them. They oppress the poor, causing their destruction.
Proverbs 10:16: “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.”
The righteous labor in support of life in this world and eternal life in the world to come. The wicked pursue hurtful paths, to destroy others, which also destroys them.
Proverbs 10:18: “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.
21: The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.”
1 Peter 3:8: “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10: For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”
As James so eloquently explains in chapter 3 of his letter, we are to use our tongues for good and not evil—we cannot do both.
Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
Romans 11:33: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
The wisdom and knowledge of God impart great spiritual riches to us.
Proverbs 10:23: “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.”
Titus 3:3: “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
Colossians 3:8: “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
Wicked people spend time and energy figuring out what perverted thing to do next. A right-thinking man develops his understanding, and gains wisdom in his dealings.
Proverbs 10:24: The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25: As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.”
1 Peter 3:12: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
Hebrews 12:28: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
The wicked live in fear of the just retribution that shall come upon them for their deeds. The righteous trust God and fear Him with reverence.
Proverbs 10:26: “As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.”
Vinegar hurts the teeth, and smoke stings the eyes. A lazy person vexes his employer.
Proverbs 10:27: “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28: The 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.”
1 Peter 3:10: “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
As we have previously studied, righteousness leads us to avoid those dangerous attitudes and practices that may shorten our lives. If we listen to God and obey Him, our chances of living longer are enhanced. If we keep bad company and engage in hurtful activities, we may bring death and destruction to ourselves.
Proverbs 10:30: “The 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.
32: The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.”
There is a psalm of David that nicely sums many of these proverbs. These are the words of the Lord, relayed by His faithful servant, David, to his son, Solomon, who gave the proverbs. Let me share Psalm 37 with you at this time.
Psalms 37:1: “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2: For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3: Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6: And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7: Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9: For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10: For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11: But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12: The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13: The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14: The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15: Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16: A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17: For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18: The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19: They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20: But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21: The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22: For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26: He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27: Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28: For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29: The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30: The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31: The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32: The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33: The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34: Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35: I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36: Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37: Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38: But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39: But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40: And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”
