Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:1

Hilberto we have been in the parch or preface to the Proverbs, here they begin; they are short but wroughty sentences: most of them are districts, true forerans in one verse, illustrating each other; but it is seldom that there is any coherence between the verses, much less any thread of discourse, and therefore in these chapters we need not attempt to reduce the contents in their proper hands; the several sentences will appear half in their own places. The scope of them all is to set before us good and evil, the blasting and the curse. Many of the proverbs in this chapter relate to the good government of the tongue, without which men’s religion is vain.

1. THE proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh of his mother. Chap. xx. 11. & vii. 11. 12. & vii. 12. 13. & vii. 13. & vii. 13.

Nothing is a greater comfort to parents, than to see their children profiting by their instruction and examples, and growing in wisdom and favour with God and man. This is a recompense for all their toil; though, if otherwise, it will be some satisfaction to them to have done their best. On the other hand, nothing is a bitterer burden to an aged parent’s heart, than to see their children stubborn, disobedient, and refractory, bringing down their grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. The guilt of such conduct before God is exceedingly aggravated.

2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. v. 2. 3. The wicked have here usually most of this world’s wealth; yet, little are they to be envied; for treasures of wickedness, either such as are wickedly gotten, or spent in wickedness, profit nothing: they give no substantial satisfaction to the soul; the curse of God is upon them, and he casteth them away; either by some strokes of his providence depriving men of what they abuse, or at death removing them from their substance for ever.

For different is it with the righteous. His righteousness delivereth from death; others, by his charity enlisting them; himself, as it prevents the judgments which sinners provoke. Or, as it is a part of that divine nature which is possessed through faith in Christ, it is a preservative from such eternal. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; for their bodily provision he will take care, and especially will find their souls with the bread of life, which cometh down from heaven.

4. He becometh poor that dealeth with a flack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Proverbs 10:4

Before Christ

1. v. 4. Honestly is the best policy, and industry the forest way to prosper. He beasmoth poor that deaileth with a flesh on deceitful hand; who is idle in his business, or backward to relieve the distressed; or making haste to be rich by fraud and injustice, brings down God’s anger, and loses his reputation among men. But the hand of the diligent, or acute, who are active and industrious, maketh rich. And in the concerns of our fouls it is equally true; they who give all diligence are those who will be richest in grace, and make their calling and election sure.

2. He that gathereth in summer, is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest, is a son that cauleth shame.

Proverbs 10:5

Time must be seized by the fore-lock: the season of opportunity is precious; it is a mark of true wisdom to improve it; but idleness, and neglect of the proper season, bring want and shame to the foolish son, and his parents share his reproach. Youth is our summer, to provide for the winter of age; if we sleep this away, without furnishing our minds with knowledge and grace, we shall live to be mere cumberers of the ground.

6. Bleflings are upon the head of the jull: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the jull is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

v. 6, 7. The jull, or jullified, who by faith in Jesus are accounted righteous before God, are entitled to all the bleflings of grace and glory, more ornamental than the diadem, and a false protection than an helmet of polished steel: and when they go hence, their memory is precious, they are spoken of with honour, and survivors bless God for their good examples, and the sweet favour of their graces which remains behind them, by which, though dead, they yet speak. As for the wicked, it is not so with them: violence covereth their mouth; when speechless under the conviction of evil deeds, they have not a plea to make in arrest of judgment: or, their mouth covereth violence; they palliate with excuses their evil deeds, or hypocritically labour to conceal them. Their name shall rot; either they shall be buried in oblivion, notwithstanding their care to perpetuate their memory; or, if remembered, shall be mentioned with detestation, expressly of that abhorrence due to their wickedness.

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

Proverbs 10:8

They are truly wise, who are wise in heart, whose heads are not merely stored with knowledge, but their hearts fraught with grace; who give this proof of their wisdom, they will receive commandments, as obedient subjects, durdled children, and in all fidelity approving themselves to God. But a prating fool, that loves to hear himself talk, opinionated of his understanding, and conceiting himself very wise, shall fall into contempt among men; into sin, which ever attends a multitude of words; and consequently into hell, the end of those who say and do not.

9. He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Proverbs 10:9

He that walketh uprightly, in simplicity and godly sincerity cleaving to God’s word and worship, and in his transactions with men speaking the truth from his heart, and shewing all good fidelity; he walketh surely; safe under the divine protection, in the way to life and glory, and his end will be peace: but he that perverteth his ways; in crooked paths, doubles, and turns, dissembles, and acts hypocritically with God or man; shall be known: in some unguarded moment the mark will drop off, and his folly and sin be manifested to his shame in this world; at least, in the great day of recompense it shall be seen.

10. He that winketh with the eye, cauleth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

Proverbs 10:10

He that winketh with the eye, to draw others into sin with him, or as a signal to companions in mischief, to carry on some scheme of wickedness, cauleth sorrow to the person against whom the design is laid; to those who concur with him, bringing them to share his guilt; and to his own soul, which must suffer for it: but a prating fool, less mischievous and dangerous indeed, but most disagreeable and troublesome, shall fall, or be beaten, for his folly and impertinence.

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

Proverbs 10:11

A man is known by his words; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, sending forth the salutary streams of a gracious conversation, and ministring obfuscation to the hearers;

but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked; his tongue is full of corrupt communication; or covers violence; speaking lies in hypocrisy, and, under the guile of friendship, cloaking the most pernicious designs.

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

Proverbs 10:12

Where hatred is in the heart, there will never be wanting occasion for strifes; for every look and word will be misinterpreted into a provocation; and where such a temper reigns, it will be ever scattering infatuation, calamities, and lies, to kindle the fire of contention: but love covereth all sins; draws the veil of oblivion over all affronts and injuries, conceals the evil which may be hid, and wishes to extenuate what cannot.

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.

Proverbs 10:13

Understanding in the heart will put wisdom in the lips: the conversation of such will be edifying, and their words heard with respect and advantage; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding, or wants a heart; whose folly capsules him to shame and scourges, as his present punishment here; or to everlasting shame and suffering, the wages of sin hereafter.

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

Proverbs 10:14

They who know the value of wisdom, lay it up as the most precious recitters, and by every means of prayer, reading, and meditation, seek to increase their share, that they may be ready to use it for the good of others; but the fool rashly blasts what brings ruin on others or himself.

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

Proverbs 10:15

Worldly wealth is a defence from injuries, few caring to assault those well able to defend themselves; and the rich are apt to place too great confidence in their possessions, and to be elated thereby, though they profit not in a day of wrath. On the other hand, the poor are ready to be oppressed by every foot, and are in consternation and distress often above measure, through fear of perishing for want.

16. The labour of the righteous tendeth to life; the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Proverbs 10:16

The labour of the righteous tendeth to life; his industry is blessed with a provision for himself and family; or his care for his soul succeeds in an increase of spiritual life, and establishes his hope of eternal life: but the fruit of the wicked, whatever he possesses, whether by inheritance or acquired, all tendeth to sin; hardens him in it, and is abused to serve his lusts, his pleasures, and his pride.

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

Proverbs 10:17

The way to life eternal is the instruction the gospel of Jesus gives, and he that receiveth and keepeth it can never perish; but he that refuseth reproof, gives in God’s word, by his ministers, parents, or masters, erreth from the path of life, and, as the fruit of his perverseness and obstinacy, rushes upon his destruction.

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

Proverbs 10:18

They may think themselves very wise, who, when hatred boils in their heart, can smile, be gracious, and cover it with deceit; and he that uttereth slander, may think to do it in so artful a manner, that the author of it shall never be known; but in God’s account they are fools; their wickedness will be detected, and their shame be made manifest at the last.

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

Proverbs 10:19

Few words are best. They who must give an account for every idle word, need keep the door of their lips. Wisdom is known by silence and thoughtfulness, fully by talkativeness.

20. The tongue of the jull 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.

v. 20, 21. Though rash and heedless talk is disconnuance, that is commendable which is for the use of edifying. The truly wife are not as dark landforms, that shine only to themselves; but communicative out of the good treasure of their hearts. The tongue of the jull is as choice flower; pure from drops, and precious, speaking of those truths of gospel-grace that enrich the soul more than all treasures: and their lips find many; to whom they break the bread of life, and by it they are nourished up in the words of sound doctrine. But the heart of the wicked is still worth; evil, and only evil continually within, and from a fourteen to corrupt nothing pure or profitable can be expected to flow. They may boast of the goodness of their heart, but he who knows it, asserts it to be deliberately wicked and worthwhile. No marvel therefore they die for want of wisdom; obli-nate and untrashable, who neither know, nor desire to know, the way of life and peace, but persist in the devices of their own soillnesses.

7 PC. xxvii. 11.

22. The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 10:22

Those are the truly valuable riches, which are acquired with God’s blessing, and employed to his glory: no guilt attends the gain of them, no sorrow embitters the enjoyment of them.