Proverbs 10

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

One who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.

The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.

He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.

He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

What the wicked fear will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.

The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter presents a series of contrasting wise and foolish lives, primarily through short, pithy antithetical proverbs. It opens with the impact of a son’s character on his parents and proceeds to explore themes such as righteousness and wickedness, diligence and laziness, speech, and divine justice. These sayings collectively form a moral and theological foundation for living wisely under God's governance, emphasizing the practical outworking of fear of the Lord in daily conduct.

Flow.

Begins with the personal and familial consequences of wisdom and folly, especially in parent-child relationships.
Moves to contrasts between righteous and wicked conduct, focusing on work, speech, and moral integrity.
Highlights the role of words: the wise use speech for life and correction, while fools bring ruin by their talk.
Closes with the assurance of God’s protection for the righteous and the inevitable downfall of the wicked.

Connections.
Following chapter 9, which culminates in a contrast between the house of wisdom and the way of folly personified by Woman Folly, chapter 10 reinforces these dual paths through didactic proverbs rather than narrative imagery. Where chapter 9 ends with a call to choose wisdom’s way, chapter 10 begins to unpack what life in that way looks like in concrete behaviors—particularly in speech, labor, and moral choice. The contrasts in this chapter lay the groundwork for the sustained wisdom/foolishness framework that extends through the rest of the proverbial collection, which chapter 11 will continue by deepening the themes of righteousness, social justice, and divine recompense.

What it teaches.
The chapter underscores that righteousness, grounded in the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7), leads to life, stability, and divine provision (WCF 16.6), while wickedness leads to ruin and divine judgment. God upholds the righteous, ensuring their needs are met (Prov. 10:3; cf. WCF 5.7), and sovereignly orders the outcomes of human actions, blessing diligence and condemning sloth (Prov. 10:4–5; LC 134). The tongue is a marker of inner character: righteous speech reflects wisdom and gives life (Prov. 10:11, 31; HC LD 43), while wicked speech reveals a corrupt heart and brings destruction (Prov. 10:19–21; WCF 14.2). The ultimate security of the righteous and the fleeting nature of the wicked stand as testimony to God’s moral governance of the world (Prov. 10:25, 30; WCF 3.7; HC LD 10).

Apply.
Act with diligence, guard your speech, and trust that the Lord values righteousness over riches.

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