Proverbs Chapter 10

Pro 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

I think every sincere parent that ever brought a child into the world can say that 1st verse is certainly true.
We can take comfort in the verse:

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Nothing grieves the heart of a parent then seeing a child do evil. We feel responsible and that somehow we are to blame.

Pro 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

One can steal, cheat in business, deceive, get rich by questionable means but in the end it profits nothing. I think about the Kennedy family sometimes. They were rich. They have had such tragedy in their family though that it hardly seems worth it. One son killed in a plane crash, two sons assassinated, Joseph Senior suffering a stroke and all for nothing. I'm not going to say any evil about them and try to guess why but riches do not bring us the happiness we think it does.

If riches are gotten wrongly, it will profit nothing in the end. In fact it would seem that even riches gotten honestly profits nothing as far as eternity is concerned.

What really counts is the spiritual riches that comes from God.

Pro 10:3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

He takes care of those who trust in Him and keeps His word.

Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Pro 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Here is another promise that if we help the less fortunate and give what we can, we will not lack. This does not promise us earthly riches. A stingy person will not have much in the long run. Its actually fun to give if we give with the right spirit.

Pro 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

The bible never condones laziness and being slothful. Hard work is rewarded. In the days that one's survival depended upon those that worked during harvest, they would starve to death if they didn't work.

Pro 10:6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Pro 10:7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

There is hardly anyone in existence who has not heard the name of Jesus whether or not they believe He is the Son of God and the only way of salvation. A good man is remembered.

When a good person dies, his deeds are remembered and people weep. When the evil dies, people are relieved.

Pro 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

It is so foolish to reject the word of God or take it lightly. Some think nothing of changing it to mean something other than what the Holy Spirit intended it to mean when He placed it upon the hearts of the writers. It is foolish indeed to take it so lightly that we think in ourselves we can change it to our liking.

Pro 10:9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
Pro 10:10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

Notice that those that wink with the eye, usually are deceivers. Of course some are just having fun but usually it means telling something that is not exactly true.

Pro 10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

A righteous person cares for the soul and livelihood of individual people. They care for the poor, they care for the eternal soul of those that are lost without God, they care about the good of mankind in general. The wicked care only for self and what they can get out of people.

Pro 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

We must strive hard to overcome the temptation to hate. It will destroy our souls, our life and cause all kinds of problems. Love overlooks little things and does not desire to spread rumors, gossip or slander. Love is the far better way to live one's life.

Pro 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.

Again this wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord.

Pro 10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Glory not in the knowledge of this world but it will pass away. Rejoice in knowing God and having the knowledge that comes from the study of His word.

Pro 10:15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Pro 10:16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Everything the righteous does leads to life and eternal life.

Pro 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Reject the word of God and die physically and spiritually. Keep instruction and have the gift of eternal life.

Pro 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

We shall know them by their fruits. One can say they love but we know they love by the fruits they bear. For example: If we love someone we would not desire that they be drunken and not be able to function normally. If we love someone, we would not desire evil to happen to them. If we love someone we would not be envious of them if they had more than we had. Love conquers all envy, jealousy, hatred, strife and so forth.

Pro 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

This is something that has always bothered me about presidential debates. The fast talker or the one with the quick witty responses are considered the best men and the best debaters. This is not what the word of God teaches though. We are supposed to think before we speak and not be hasty to utter our words. Yet in today's rush mad world, we think the quick talker is the more intelligent.

In many words there doesn't lack sin.

Pro 10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

The wise person usually thinks before he or she speaks.

Pro 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Pro 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Pro 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

The foolish really have nothing to live for except to live as fools.

Pro 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

If we live and please God in all our ways, we will have all our hearts desire but in most cases our hearts desire the things that we already have. We desire more of God and to learn more of His ways. This is granted to us without measure.

Pro 10:25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

The works of the righteous will follow him but the wicked pass away and his works are lost.

Pro 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

If we want to send someone to deliver an important message, we better send a faithful one than a lazy person who just doesn't care.

Pro 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

His lifestyle shortens it. We reap what we sow.

Pro 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

In the end, in the long run, the wicked will perish both in this life and in eternity. Evil will not prevail.

Pro 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Pro 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

This will occur in full at the return of Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom.

Pro 10:31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
Pro 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

These verses should be read and understood constantly so that we do not forget these good words of wisdom that came straight from God. Remember it was God who gave Solomon all this understanding. Solomon still had the power to choose whether or not to take his own advice but the wisdom itself was given by the Lord.

PROVERBS 11