Proverbs 10

Here begins the more ancient collection of Proverbs or Maxims, properly so called, which extends to xxii. 16. For the most part, these proverbs are disconnected; but occasionally there is an evident train of thought uniting two or more in a series. The language of the proverbs is very concise, and marked by certain peculiarities. Every proverb consists of two parts, containing commonly, in the Hebrew, from three to five words each; and it has a meaning complete in itself. The requisite point and vividness are obtained by a parallelism either of correspondence or of antithesis. All these proverbs have reference to the standard of religious and moral duty, as it existed among the Israelites in their best times; so that their contents fully confirm the title which attributes them to the “wise king.”

3. He casteth away the substances of the wicked. Or, “disappointeth the cravings of the wicked.”

6 violence covereth the mouth, etc. Moffatt renders: “the bad man’s face shall be darkened with disaster.”

9 shall be known. i.e., Shall be detected and exposed.

10. He that winketh with the eye. A sign may be an instrument of mischief. See vi. 13.

But a grating fool shall fall. According to some ancient versions, this second clause reads, “But he that rebuketh openly maketh peace,” the contrast being between the covert sneer and the faithful reproof.

11. Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. See note on ver. 6.

12. Love covereth all sins. Love to others, instead of publishing their sins, casts a veil over them: see 1 Pet. iv. 8.

13. But a rod, etc. His mischievous talk can be restrained only by severity.

15. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. Helps to ward off many evils which the poor cannot avert, and therefore suffer doubly. This is one side of the truth; another is given in xviii. 11.

16. The fruit of the wicked. Rather, “revenue,” or “gain.”

18. He that hideth hatred, etc. Rather, “He that hideth hatred is of lying lips”; i.e., is a liar. Hatred concealed is deceit, hatred outspoken is folly.

19. In the multitude of words, etc. Cp. Eccles. v. 1-7.

24. The fear of the wicked. That is, what he fears.

25. As the whirlwind. Or, “When the whirlwind,” etc. (R.V.). He is swept away by the storm: cp. Matt. vii. 24-27.

28 gladness. That is, shall be fulfilled to his joy.

29. The way of the Lord, etc. Rather, “A bulwark to the upright [man is] the way of the Eternal; but [it is] destruction to the workers of iniquity”: cp. Hosea xiv. 9.

30 the earth. Or, “the land.”

31 bringeth forth, etc. Or (as R.V. marg.), “buddeth with,” as a blossoming shrub. The “froward tongue,” on the other hand, is compared to one that shall be “cut down.”

32 know what is acceptable. i.e., have opportune words always ready.