Proverbs 10:1-11

CHAPTER 10
TEXT Proverbs 10:1-11

1.

The Proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son maketh a glad father;
But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

2.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing;

But righteous delivereth from death.

3.

Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish;

But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.

4.

He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand;

But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son;

But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

6.

Blessings are upon the head of the righteous;

But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

7.

The memory of the righteous is blessed;

But the name of the wicked shall rot.

8.

The wise in heart will receive commandments;

But a prating fool shall fall.

9.

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely;

But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

10.

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow;

But a prating fool shall fall.

11.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life;

But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 10:1-11

1.

Why say, The proverbs of Solomon, here in the middle of the book (Proverbs 10:1)?

2.

Exemplify how wise children make glad parents (Proverbs 10:1).

3.

Exemplify how foolish children make sad parents (Proverbs 10:1).

4.

In what sense do treasures of wickedness profit nothing when many wicked are wealthy (Proverbs 10:2)?

5.

When does righteousness deliver one from death (Proverbs 10:2)?

6.

What does soul mean in Proverbs 10:3?

7.

What is a slack hand (Proverbs 10:4)?

8.

Why even bring hand into this verse (Proverbs 10:4) that uses it twice?

9.

Causeth shame to whom (Proverbs 10:5)?

10.

Whose blessings are upon the righteous (Proverbs 10:6)?

11.

How does violence cover the mouth of the wicked (Proverbs 10:6)?

12.

What is the significance of the word rot here in Proverbs 10:7?

13.

What does prating mean (Proverbs 10:8)?

14.

List ways that one might pervert his ways and be found out (Proverbs 10:9).

15.

In Proverbs 10:10 what is wrong with winking?

16.

How can one's mouth be a fountain of life (Proverbs 10:11)?

PARAPHRASE OF 10:1-11

1.

These are the proverbs of Solomon. Happy is the man with a level-headed son; sad the mother of a rebel.

2.

Ill-gotten gain brings no lasting happiness; right living does.

3.

The Lord will not let a good man starve to death, nor will He let the wicked man's riches continue forever.

4.

Lazy men are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

5.

A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity.

6.

The good man is covered with blessings from head to foot, but an evil man inwardly curses his luck.

7.

We all have happy memories of good men gone to their reward, but the names of wicked men stink after them.

8.

The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.

9.

A good man has firm footing, but a crook will slip and fall.

10.

Winking at sin leads to sorrow; bold reproof leads to peace.

11.

There is living truth in what a good man says, but the mouth of the evil man is filled with curses.

COMMENTS ON 10:1-11

Proverbs 10:1 After 9 Chapter s in this book called Proverbs, aren-'t you surprised to see the heading, The proverbs of Solomon, here? The explanation: a proverb is a wise saying. The first 9 Chapter s, while exalting and containing wisdom, are not sayings but are extended topical material. The actual sayings begin here and will continue through chapter 29. The message of the verse: What we do as sons can affect the happiness or the heaviness of our parents, both while under their roof and after we leave it. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) surely brought heavenliness upon his foolish departure and throughout his waywardness and indulgence, but he brought happiness upon his penitent return. Other passages containing the same truth: Proverbs 15:20; Proverbs 17:21; Proverbs 17:25; Proverbs 19:13; Proverbs 29:3; Proverbs 29:15. Thought for parents: The way you are now rearing your children will have much to do with your own future happiness or heaviness.

Proverbs 10:2. Treasures of wickedness are riches gotten by wrong means. A Christian must follow only acceptable vocations: Ephesians 4:28; marginal note on Titus 3:8. Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice (Proverbs 16:8). Other similar references: Proverbs 11:4; Psalms 34:10; Psalms 37:25; Daniel 4:27. And yet communities and families are usually more proud of their rich than they are of their righteous!

Proverbs 10:3. American Bible Union version: Jehovah will not let the spirit of the righteous famish; But he repels the longing of the wicked. God so blesses the righteous that they do not faint. Consider David's praise of God in Psalms 23:1-6. And so states Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16. But equally so is God's face against those who do evil (1 Peter 3:12).

Proverbs 10:4. The proper result of shiftlessness is to have nothing. God has willed that if a person will not work, he should not have things to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Some may become rich through crooked dealings, but others are prosperous through diligence. For similar material see Proverbs 12:24; Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 19:15; Proverbs 21:5. In calling men to serve Him God has always called the busy people: Elisha plowing (1 Kings 19:19-21), fishermen working (Matthew 4:18-22), Matthew sitting at his place of toll (Matthew 9:9), and Saul of Tarsus busy persecuting (Acts 26:10-18).

Proverbs 10:5. This is related in content to Proverbs 10:4. Also to Proverbs 10:1. In life our actions commend others or embarrass them.

Proverbs 10:6. Clarke comments: As blessings shall be on the head of the just, so the violence of the wicked shall cover their face with shame and confusion. Their own violent dealings shall be visited upon them. Proverbs 10:11 talks again of violence covering the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:7. This verse speaks of the deceased. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance (Psalms 112:6). Their virtues are extolled (Acts 9:36-39). But the bad things that a wicked person did are remembered long after he is dead. His name rots (gets worse) because that is the only side of him seemingly remembered and passed onto others. While we may call our children Timothy, Matthew, and other good Bible characters-' names, yet we do not name them Cain, Ahab, or Jezebel.

Proverbs 10:8. Jesus also likened the obedient to the wise (Matthew 7:26-27(. Webster on prate: To talk, especially much and to little purpose; to chatter. Thus Young translates a talkative fool. Diotrophes prated against the apostle John (3 John 1:10). Such will fall, sometimes as a consequence of his words even before he falls at the final judgment. Proverbs 10:10 repeats the statement.

Proverbs 10:9. Walks in integrity says Young's Literal and Amplified. One who is walking in righteousness knows what he is doing, has assurance, and is safe. To pervert one's way is to divert it from what is right. One cannot do this without being found out, at least ultimately (dishonesty, adultery, embezzlement, etc.). Want to be known and noticed? Do wrong, and you will be. The righteous settle for walketh surely. Proverbs 28:18 is a parallel passage.

Proverbs 10:10. This ends the same as Proverbs 10:8. Pulpit Commentary: Winking with the eye is a sign of craft, malice, and complicity with other wicked comrades. Study Proverbs 6:12-14 also. The first statement shows that wrongdoing brings sorrow to others; the second shows that it brings destruction, to oneself.

Proverbs 10:11. The blessings brought by the mouth of the righteous is set in contrast to the sorrow and destruction brought by the wicked in Proverbs 10:10. Psalms 37:30 also speaks of the mouth of the righteous. People are helped by what good people say. This verse ends the same as Proverbs 10:6.

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 10:1-11

1.

What does a wise son make (Proverbs 10:1)?

2.

What does a foolish son make (Proverbs 10:1)?

3.

What was said about treasures of wickedness (Proverbs 10:2)?

4.

To what does a slack hand lead (Proverbs 10:4)?

5.

What was said about the hand of the diligent, (Proverbs 10:4)?

6.

What about the memory of the righteous (Proverbs 10:7)?

7.

What about the name of the wicked (Proverbs 10:7)?

8.

What does prating mean (Proverbs 10:8)?

9.

Comment on winking as used in Proverbs 10:9.

10.

Of which are communities and families more proudof their rich or their righteous (Proverbs 10:9)?

11.

Which spreads faster and farthernews of one's good deeds or bad deeds (Proverbs 10:9)?

12.

Which verse did the Paraphrase help you with the most?

13.

Which verse did the Comments help you with the most?