Proverbs 10:8

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. THE WISE IN HEART WILL RECEIVE COMMANDMENTS - namely, those of God, and of the servants of God, as to the right regulation of his heart and life (). BUT A PRATING FOOL SHALL FALL - one who pertinaciously defends his folly, and who can speak nothing except what betrays his folly-literally, 'a fool of lips.' The fool's lips, which are his prominent characteristic, are opposed to the wise man's heart, which is his characteristic. The fool is void of heart - i:e., understanding; therefore, in his self-sufficiency, he will not hear the commandments of God and of His servants; whereas the wise man, conscious of his own weakness, gladly hears the instructions of others....

1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and this suggests to both, motives to their duties. Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 10:3. Though the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life. Proverbs 10:4. Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works. Proverbs 10:5. Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Proverbs 10:6. Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings....

Verse Proverbs 10:8. _A PRATING FOOL SHALL FALL._] This clause is repeated in the _tenth_ verse. The _wise man will receive the commandment: but_ _the shallow blabbing fool shall be cast down_. See Proverbs 10:10....

A PRATING ... FALL - Better, as in the margin. Inward self-contained wisdom is contrasted with self-exposed folly....

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-22:16 PART III. FIRST GREAT COLLECTION (375) OF SOLOMONIC PROVERBS. VERSE 1-12:28 First section. The sections are noted by their commencing usually with the words, "a wise son." PROVERBS 10:1 THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON. This is the title of the new part of the book; it is omitted in the Septuagint. There is some kind of loose connection in the grouping of these proverbs, but it is difficult to follow. "Ordo frustra quaeritur ubi nullus fuit observatus," says Mart. Geier. Wordsworth considers the present chapter to contain exemplifications of the principles and results of the two ways of life displayed in the preceding nine chapters. The antitheti

THE WISE IN HEART WILL RECEIVE COMMANDMENTS,.... Such who have true wisdom in the hidden part of the heart, of which the fear of the Lord is the beginning: these will not only, as good subjects, honour their king, and attend to his lawful commands; and, as dutiful children, regard those of their parents; and, as faithful servants, hearken to those of their masters; but, as such that fear the Lord, will receive and cheerfully obey the commandments of God and Christ; BUT A PRATING FOOL SHALL FALL; like Diotrephes, that prated against the Apostle John and other saints. Or, "a fool of lips" b; whose folly is proclaimed and made known by his lips; who, out of the abundance of it in his heart, speaks and pours it out by his lips: such an one falls into sin and into mischief; he falls into disgrace in this world, and into hell in the next. The Targum is, "the fool by his lips shall be taken;'...

II. THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON: CHAPTER S 10--19:19 Beginning with the tenth chapter we have the collection of proverbs given by inspiration through Solomon. In this section the personal address, “My son,” and the personal exhortations are missing. It will be noticed that each verse in this section contains a proverb, consisting each of two lines, mostly of an antithetic character, except Proverbs 19:7, which has three lines instead of two (a tristich). It is impossible to give a detailed analysis of these Chapter s, nor can we take up each proverb separately for meditation. This must be left to each reader. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, and a prayerful study of these terse sayings, the heavenly wisdom given in these Chapter s can readily be found. There is no end to practical application. Yet even in these Chapter s a certain order is maintained. The contrast in each chap

PROVERBS 10:2 (_cf._ Psalms 3:7). RIGHTEOUSNESS: the growth of the conception of righteousness is an important subject. As in the Pss., there is a specific class the righteous opposed to the wicked. The righteous are generally synonymous with the poor and afflicted remnant, sometimes equivalent to the Hasidim of the Greek period. In general the tendency of the conception of righteousness is towards a specific moral character, rather than towards the fulfilment of legal duties. This is important in view of the implied contrast in the Synoptic Gospels between the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, and such a righteousness as our Lord taught to be the condition of entrance into the kingdom of God (_cf._ Matthe

WILL RECEIVE, &C. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 22; Hebrews 11:8; Hebrews 11:17); David (2 Samuel 7); widow (1 Kings 17:10); Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:6. Compare Proverbs 23:22). A PRATING FOOL. a fool (Hebrew. _'evil._ See note on Proverbs 1:7) of lips: lips put by Figure of speech

_a prating fool_ A happy rendering, lit. THE FOOLISH OF LIPS. _shall fall_ Or, _shall be overthrown_, or _laid low_. R.V. marg....