The Upright and the Wicked Contrasted

101 Wise son, glad father; stupid son, sad mother.

2 Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere; an honest life is immortal. 3 God won't starve an honest soul, but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked.

4 Sloth makes you poor; diligence brings wealth.

5 Make hay while the sun shines - that's smart; go fishing during harvest - that's stupid.

6 Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

7 A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.

8 A wise heart takes orders; an empty head will come unglued.

9 Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.

10 An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead, but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.

11 The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

12 Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.

13 You'll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight, but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.

14 The wise accumulate knowledge - a true treasure; know-it-alls talk too much - a sheer waste. The Road to Life Is a Disciplined Life

15 The wealth of the rich is their bastion; the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.

16 The wage of a good person is exuberant life; an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.

17 The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.

18 Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander.

19 The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.

20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless. 21 The talk of a good person is rich fare for many, but chatterboxes die of an empty heart. Fear-of-God Expands Your Life

22 God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 10:1-22

Commentary on Proverbs 10:1

(Read Proverbs 10:1)

The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and this suggests to both, motives to their duties.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:2-3

(Read Proverbs 10:2-3)

Though the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:4

(Read Proverbs 10:4)

Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:5

(Read Proverbs 10:5)

Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:6

(Read Proverbs 10:6)

Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:7

(Read Proverbs 10:7)

Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:8

(Read Proverbs 10:8)

The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:9

(Read Proverbs 10:9)

Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:10

(Read Proverbs 10:10)

Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:11

(Read Proverbs 10:11)

The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:12

(Read Proverbs 10:12)

Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:13

(Read Proverbs 10:13)

Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:14

(Read Proverbs 10:14)

Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:15

(Read Proverbs 10:15)

This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:16

(Read Proverbs 10:16)

Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:17

(Read Proverbs 10:17)

The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:18

(Read Proverbs 10:18)

He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:19

(Read Proverbs 10:19)

Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise man, and therein consults his own peace.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:20-21

(Read Proverbs 10:20-21)

The tongue of the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought.

Commentary on Proverbs 10:22

(Read Proverbs 10:22)

That wealth which is truly desirable, has no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment; no grief for the loss; no guilt by the abuse of it. What comes from the love of God, has the grace of God for its companion.