This chapter of Proverbs changes in terms of format from the previous chapters. Here, we are now presented plainly a series of proverbs without additional commentary. Commentators have tackled this chapter in a variety of ways. Some go verse by verse and others try to pluck out some themes. The chapter does not "flow" from theme to theme but rather can be abrupt in its change of topic. That being said, I am going to try to continue by extracting what I sense to be at least some of the themes of the chapter. I will then plan to present some, if not the remainder of the verses that do not fit into a theme (or a broad enough theme), as standalones.
1. Righteousness Profits and Prospers; Wickedness is Fleeting and of Little Worth (Proverbs 10: 2, 3, 15, 16, 22, 25, 27, 28, 30). "Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit..." (Proverbs 10:2 ESV). The treasures of this life are temporary and do not profit because you cannot bring them with you when you die. Therefore, store your treasures up in heaven and not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). Moreover, someone else who did not work for what you toiled so much for will reap what you have sown (Ecclesiastes 2:21). "Righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 10:2 ESV) and "[t]he Lord does not let the righteous go hungry" (Proverbs 10:3 ESV). Righteousness not only has heavenly rewards but earthly rewards as well, for "[t]he blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22 ESV). This last point is important to emphasize because I think in certain circles there is some idea that you have to suffer in one area to gain in another; that you have to sacrifice something to gain something. This is an occult doctrine and is not correct. The Lord Almighty does not need your burnt offerings; he wants your worship. "The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land." (Proverbs 10:30 ESV). So it says, so it will be. Praise the Lord.
I have included one verse here that may not appear to fit at first blush: "A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin" (Proverbs 10:15 ESV). I believe that a man's true wealth is his righteousness and his wisdom, which will protect him, not material wealth which is like the bread that perishes. The poverty spoken of is that of those who do not have wisdom, they are poor and they don't even know it (Revelation 3:17) and so it will be their ruin.
2. Tend Your Gardens and You Will Eat of Them (Proverbs 10: 4, 5). You must gather in the appropriate season (Proverbs 10:5) for "[a] slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." (Proverbs 10:4 ESV).
3. The Wicked Conceal Their Intentions (Proverbs 10: 6, 11, 18). This probably goes without saying but if someone is trying to cheat you or if they don't like you they're probably not going to tell you. This is not to necessarily make you paranoid, but rather to remind you that if there is someone you have offended or if someone has a reputation for being a certain way and you have not seen them act that way, do not be surprised if they manifest their true feelings toward you at a later time.
Not so much with the wicked, but with those you have offended this is why it is important to reconcile yourself with them (see Matthew 5:24) because they may not tell you how upset you made them when you offended them (although they might complain about you to others). Try to nip it in the bud before it grows thorns.
4. Be Quick to Hear (and Understand) and Slow to Speak (Proverbs 10: 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 31, 32). As discussed in a previous post, sometimes it is best to treasure up what we have heard and contemplate it (Genesis 37:11; Luke 2:51). Sometimes we will find that we hear something but its true value to us is not provided to us until we have meditated on it for some time, therefore "[t]he wise lay up knowledge..." (Proverbs 10:14 ESV).
We should also not be too quick to speak or to speak too much. They say the eye does not have enough of seeing and the ear of hearing (Ecclesiastes 1:8) but I also think the tongue is not satisfied with its speaking. My feeling is that each of our members (maybe even to a certain extent some body parts) has a proclivity to itself and almost its own agenda, hence, the barren womb is never satisfied (Proverbs 30:16). As I discussed in my posts about the power of the tongue, we need to be careful of it, for "the mouth of a fool brings ruin near" (Proverbs 10:14 ESV).
As discussed in my Chapter 9 Proverbs blog post, if we are wise we benefit ourselves (Proverbs 9:12), however, we also benefit many others for "[t]he lips of the righteous feed many" (Proverbs 10:21 ESV) and "the mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom" (Proverbs 10:31 ESV) because "[t]he lips of the righteous know what is acceptable..." (Proverbs 10:32 ESV).
Other Proverbs:
On the benefit of wisdom to one's parents (Proverbs 10:1); The reputation of the righteous is a blessing (Proverbs 10:7); Your integrity is your security (Proverbs 10:9); Don't wink the eye (Proverbs 10:10); Love begets mercy; hatred begets strife (Proverbs 10:12); Listen to instruction (Proverbs 10:17); A slanderer is a fool (Proverbs 10:18); There's nothing funny about doing wrong (Proverbs 10:23); The wicked will receive what they fear and the righteous will receive what they desire (Proverbs 10:24); A lazy messenger (worker) is an annoyance to his master (Proverbs 10:26); The way of the Lord saves the righteous and destroys the wicked (Proverbs 10:29).
*ESV=English Standard Version
1. Righteousness Profits and Prospers; Wickedness is Fleeting and of Little Worth (Proverbs 10: 2, 3, 15, 16, 22, 25, 27, 28, 30). "Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit..." (Proverbs 10:2 ESV). The treasures of this life are temporary and do not profit because you cannot bring them with you when you die. Therefore, store your treasures up in heaven and not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). Moreover, someone else who did not work for what you toiled so much for will reap what you have sown (Ecclesiastes 2:21). "Righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 10:2 ESV) and "[t]he Lord does not let the righteous go hungry" (Proverbs 10:3 ESV). Righteousness not only has heavenly rewards but earthly rewards as well, for "[t]he blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22 ESV). This last point is important to emphasize because I think in certain circles there is some idea that you have to suffer in one area to gain in another; that you have to sacrifice something to gain something. This is an occult doctrine and is not correct. The Lord Almighty does not need your burnt offerings; he wants your worship. "The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land." (Proverbs 10:30 ESV). So it says, so it will be. Praise the Lord.
I have included one verse here that may not appear to fit at first blush: "A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin" (Proverbs 10:15 ESV). I believe that a man's true wealth is his righteousness and his wisdom, which will protect him, not material wealth which is like the bread that perishes. The poverty spoken of is that of those who do not have wisdom, they are poor and they don't even know it (Revelation 3:17) and so it will be their ruin.
2. Tend Your Gardens and You Will Eat of Them (Proverbs 10: 4, 5). You must gather in the appropriate season (Proverbs 10:5) for "[a] slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." (Proverbs 10:4 ESV).
3. The Wicked Conceal Their Intentions (Proverbs 10: 6, 11, 18). This probably goes without saying but if someone is trying to cheat you or if they don't like you they're probably not going to tell you. This is not to necessarily make you paranoid, but rather to remind you that if there is someone you have offended or if someone has a reputation for being a certain way and you have not seen them act that way, do not be surprised if they manifest their true feelings toward you at a later time.
Not so much with the wicked, but with those you have offended this is why it is important to reconcile yourself with them (see Matthew 5:24) because they may not tell you how upset you made them when you offended them (although they might complain about you to others). Try to nip it in the bud before it grows thorns.
4. Be Quick to Hear (and Understand) and Slow to Speak (Proverbs 10: 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 31, 32). As discussed in a previous post, sometimes it is best to treasure up what we have heard and contemplate it (Genesis 37:11; Luke 2:51). Sometimes we will find that we hear something but its true value to us is not provided to us until we have meditated on it for some time, therefore "[t]he wise lay up knowledge..." (Proverbs 10:14 ESV).
We should also not be too quick to speak or to speak too much. They say the eye does not have enough of seeing and the ear of hearing (Ecclesiastes 1:8) but I also think the tongue is not satisfied with its speaking. My feeling is that each of our members (maybe even to a certain extent some body parts) has a proclivity to itself and almost its own agenda, hence, the barren womb is never satisfied (Proverbs 30:16). As I discussed in my posts about the power of the tongue, we need to be careful of it, for "the mouth of a fool brings ruin near" (Proverbs 10:14 ESV).
As discussed in my Chapter 9 Proverbs blog post, if we are wise we benefit ourselves (Proverbs 9:12), however, we also benefit many others for "[t]he lips of the righteous feed many" (Proverbs 10:21 ESV) and "the mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom" (Proverbs 10:31 ESV) because "[t]he lips of the righteous know what is acceptable..." (Proverbs 10:32 ESV).
Other Proverbs:
On the benefit of wisdom to one's parents (Proverbs 10:1); The reputation of the righteous is a blessing (Proverbs 10:7); Your integrity is your security (Proverbs 10:9); Don't wink the eye (Proverbs 10:10); Love begets mercy; hatred begets strife (Proverbs 10:12); Listen to instruction (Proverbs 10:17); A slanderer is a fool (Proverbs 10:18); There's nothing funny about doing wrong (Proverbs 10:23); The wicked will receive what they fear and the righteous will receive what they desire (Proverbs 10:24); A lazy messenger (worker) is an annoyance to his master (Proverbs 10:26); The way of the Lord saves the righteous and destroys the wicked (Proverbs 10:29).
*ESV=English Standard Version
Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you for these wise sayings and I pray we incorporate them into our lives that we may grow in understanding.
