Proverbs 13, Wise Mouths, Open Ears

We continue a collection of pithy two-line proverbs contrasting areas of wisdom and folly.

Proverbs 13:1, A father's instruction

A wise son heeds his father's instruction, 

but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

A common proverbial theme: listen to instruction and correction, here even more so if instruction comes from your father.

Proverbs 13:2-3, Lips and words

 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, 

but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.

He who guards his lips guards his life, 

but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Contrasted are wise words and violent desires.

Proverbs 13:4, Delayed gratification

 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, 

but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Another proverbial theme: the sluggard has fantasies and wishes but the diligent work to meet their desires.

Proverbs 13:5-6, Integrity

 The righteous hate what is false, 

but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, 

but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Truth and integrity lead to success; the wicked are overwhelmed by their thoughts and plans.

Proverbs 13:7, Appearances

 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; 

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Commentators remark on this verse -- it does not seem to teach some type of action, but alerts one to the financial images people may display. The con artist may pretend to have wealth but does not; the truly wealthy may be happy to look and act like ordinary folks.

Proverbs 13:8, It's nice being hidden

 A man's riches may ransom his life, 

but a poor man hears no threat.

This is another strange verse. One interpretation is that a rich man may be able to pay off any threats to his security but the poor man is not threatened because no one notices him. 

Proverbs 13:9, Glowing brightly in society

 The light of the righteous shines brightly, 

but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

The righteous are successful and honored. (Is that what is meant by "light... shines brightly"?) But the wicked disappear like a flame of a candle is blown out.

Proverbs 13:10, Pride vs. openness to counsel

 Pride only breeds quarrels, 

but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

In Proverbs pride and arrogance are never good but listening to advice and criticism is always a good thing.

Proverbs 13:11, Be patient and invest slowly

 Dishonest money dwindles away, 

but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Build your estate carefully and slowly. Do not jump for get-rich-quick schemes, which disappear as quickly as they appear.

Proverbs 13:12, Hope deferred

 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, 

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

What does this mean? At first glance this seems to contradict the previous verse. "Hope deferred" is hope that is dragged out over a long time, leading to anxiousness and impatience. Of course, generally have a longing fulfilled is good.

Proverbs 13: 13-14, Seek instruction

 He who scorns instruction will pay for it, 

but he who respects a command is rewarded.

 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, 

turning a man from the snares of death.

See verse 10 and many other passages -- it is important to listen to instruction.

Long ago I was a serious chessplayer, playing in USCF tournaments (eventually reaching a modest USCF rating of about 1850.) It is customary, after each game, for the two players to do a post-mortem, to replay the game together, discussing their thoughts and strategies. I always offered that option to my opponent; it was especially insightful when I lost, for I discovered lots of lines of play that had not occurred to me in the game and so my playing was improved. But often, when I won, my opponent would angrily refuse to discuss the game. It was when I was most frustrated and most angry about losing that I must force myself to smile and say, "Shall we go out in the hall and replay the game?" 

One should grit one's teeth, force a smile, and say, "Teach me."  Criticism, constructive and delivered with insight, is always valuable!

Proverbs 13:15, Understanding and faithfulness

 Good understanding wins favor, 

but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Those who are untrustworthy make their roads hard.

Proverbs 13: 16, Knowledge and folly

 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, 

but a fool exposes his folly.

The fool is exposed by his folly and beliefs

Proverbs 13:17, Trustworthiness and healing

 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, 

but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

Here and elsewhere, wisdom and integrity are associated with healing.

Proverbs 13:18, The importance of correction

 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, 

but whoever heeds correction is honored.

Another proverb about listening to correction. Kidner points out that this is Wisdom's rebuke in Proverbs 1:20-33.

Proverbs 13:19, Carefully choose your "longing"

 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, 

but fools detest turning from evil.

Here the righteous person supposedly works hard to fulfill a legitimate longing and to reap a proper reward; the fool's longing is merely wickedness.

Proverbs 13:20, Walk with wise

 He who walks with the wise grows wise, 

but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Listen to the advice of your companions and (Psalm 1:1) make sure you walk with wise companions!

Proverbs 13:21, An axiom

 Misfortune pursues the sinner, 

but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

The Axiom of Retribution: sin is punished, righteousness rewarded. As Kidner writes, "Proverbs is concerned about the general rule; Job (eg. chapter 21) with the exceptions."

Proverbs 13:22, For your grandchildren

 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, 

but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

The hard work of the righteous man is passed down to his children and grandchildren. (Please, O Lord, make this so!) But the wealth of the wicked is inherited, not by his children, but the righteous.

Proverbs 13:23, Build deep

 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, 

but injustice sweeps it away.

It is not clear to me what wisdom this passage imparts. Kidner suggests "that the size of your resources matters less than the judgment with which you handle them."

Proverbs 13:24, The rod and discipline

He who spares the rod hates his son, 

but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

A lot of ink (and maybe a little blood?) has been spilled over this verse. Kidner points to New Testament passages like Hebrews 12:5-11 and Ephesians 6:4 for a development of this verse both emphasizing the importance of discipline and tenderness. For Old Testament versions of both discipline and tenderness, indeed in Proverbs, see Proverbs 4:3, 11. (Kidner discusses the Proverbs development of the family on pp. 45f in his commentary.)

Proverbs 13:25, Safety and comfort

 The righteous eat to their hearts' content, 

but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

This verse sounds strange to me -- are the righteous greed? Kidner says that the emphasis in this verse is not on moderation but on retribution -- apparently the wicked is hungry because he has not taken care of his fields (see verses 21 and 22 above.)

Proverbs 12, Truth, Hard Work, Simplicity

We continue a collection of pithy two-line proverbs contrasting areas of wisdom and folly.

Proverbs 12: 1, Value correction

 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, 

but he who hates correction is stupid.

A common theme of Proverbs: the wise listen to criticism and correction.

Proverbs 12:2-3, Favor and stability

 A good man obtains favor from the LORD, 

but the LORD condemns a crafty man.

 A man cannot be established through wickedness,

 but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

The word "crafty" in verse 2 is used as a negative attribute; hear it means "deceitful scheming." (It is wrong to lie for Jesus!) The righteous man is favored by YHWH and stable, while the wicked man's career is tenuous and unstable.

Proverbs 12:4, Noble/disgraceful wife

A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, 

but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Just as a good man achieves success, so too a good woman, appreciated by her husband. (The Hebrew word translated "noble" carries with it strength and value, says Kidner.) Proverbs will devote a chapter to the noble woman: Proverbs 31:10-31.) 

A disgraceful wife's actions eat away at her husband's health. Alter points out that a crown on a head cannot compete with rotting bones; the word translated here "disgraceful wife" is mə·ḇî·šāh, and is held to the end of the verse for dramatic effect.

Proverbs 12:5-7, Justice and deceit

 The plans of the righteous are just, 

but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, 

but the speech of the upright rescues them.

 Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, 

but the house of the righteous stands firm.

Righteous vs. wicked: The righteous are just, give speech that leads others to trust them, are stable and firm.  The wicked are deceitful, speech encourages bloodshed, they are destroyed.

Proverbs 12:8, Wisdom, not warped

 A man is praised according to his wisdom, 

but men with warped minds are despised.

The wise man is praised while the warped, foolish man is despised. (One might say something here about those who fall for conspiracies and then pass these on.)

Proverbs 12:9, Comfortable image

 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant 

than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

Humility (but with a servant!) is better than arrogance in poverty. Kidner's commentary suggests that "have a servant" may mean "works for himself" or "is his own servant."

My family, and some other loved ones, joke about the value of being "pluggers" (See this comic.) In the same way, J. R. R. Tolkien, in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, promoted the simple life of hobbits, as opposed to wizard; hobbits are content to worked the land, doing what is necessary for a good life, without outrageous expectations and fantasies.

Proverbs 12:10-11, Steward of animals and land

 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, 

but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

 He who works his land will have abundant food, 

but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

Here is a rare Old Testament statement about stewardship of animals and land. The wise cares for his animals and carefully works the land. The wicked are thoughtless, chasing fantasies. The righteous man sense the needs of his animals; the wicked man, even when he thinks he is being kind, is cruel.

More will be said about the lazy person who follows fantasies. In modern terms we have people always following get-rich-quick schemes and so always in need. Proverbs 28:19 is a verse very similar to verse 11.

Proverbs 12:12-13, Trapped by evil plans

 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,

 but the root of the righteous flourishes.

 An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, 

but a righteous man escapes trouble.

The wicked look to take another man's wealth and is caught in his thoughtless boasting and plans. But (again) the righteous man, deep rooted, is successful and secure.

Proverbs 12:14, Good lips and hands

 From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things

 as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

Wise talk and wise work go together.

Proverbs 12:15-16, Correction and insult

 The way of a fool seems right to him, 

but a wise man listens to advice.

,

 A fool shows his annoyance at once, 

but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

The wise man listens to counsel and shrugs off insults while the fool ignores the first and reacts to the second. (See verse 1.) 

A wise man examines himself and listens to suggestions for improvement. While not in Scripture, there was a wise man who once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

Proverbs 12:17, Truthful witness

 A truthful witness gives honest testimony, 

but a false witness tells lies.

Righteousness coincides truth telling, wickedness with lying.

Proverbs 12:18-19, Reckless words

 Reckless words pierce like a sword, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

 Truthful lips endure forever, 

but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Words can hurt, piercing like a sword, while the wise speak words that comfort and heal. Lies are temporary and shallow; truth endures.

Proverbs 12:19-22, Promote peace!

 There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, 

but joy for those who promote peace.

 No harm befalls the righteous, 

but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

 The LORD detests lying lips, 

but he delights in men who are truthful.

For the righteous, who promote peace, there is not just security for joy! The wicked, with lying lips, live lives of anxiety and trouble.

Proverbs 12:23, Discretion

 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, 

but the heart of fools blurts out folly.

Here discretion is described as an attribute of wisdom. All my life I have believed in the importance of "transparency". I have been slow to learn that sometimes "discretion" trumps "transparency."

Proverbs 12:24, Diligence/laziness

 Diligent hands will rule, 

but laziness ends in slave labor.

In the ANE, laziness could lead to debt could lead to a long contract as a bond-servant. Even in the best societies. In the worst Israelite times, there was genuine slave labor; even Solomon had slave labor (1 Kings 5:13-14, 1 Kings 11:28.)

Proverbs 12:25, Reaching out to the anxious

 An anxious heart weighs a man down, 

but a kind word cheers him up.

The "kind word" here, says Kidner, is an encouraging word to help the anxious man deal with his difficulties.

Proverbs 12:26, Slow friendship

 A righteous man is cautious in friendship,

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Like making a pledge to a stranger, a righteous man is careful in his friendships, developing them with care.

Proverbs 12:27, More diligence/laziness

The lazy man does not roast his game, 

but the diligent man prizes his possessions.

The Hebrew here is unclear (say our commentators.) Apparently the lazy glutton hurries to eat, not even taking time to make his meal enjoyable, while the wise person is careful and diligent, making the most of his possessions.

Proverbs 12:28, Path no death

 In the way of righteousness there is life; 

along that path is immortality.

The way of the righteous leads to life, even, here, to "immortality"! The last line is apparently difficult in the Hebrew (say both Alter and Davidson), with an ending being something like "path no death." There is little said in the Old Testament about immortality, so that the difficulty of the Hebrew text gets no aid from other Old Testament verses.

These short bicolon sayings continue in chapter 13.

Proverbs 11, Kindness, Generosity, Discretion

We continue a collection of pithy two-line proverbs contrasting areas of wisdom and folly, proverbs that give wise advice.

Proverbs 11:1, Dishonest scales

 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, 

but accurate weights are his delight.

In the ANE commercial world, weights were used in commerce, weighing coins or pieces of metal in the sale and weighing the weight of the products being sold. A scheming merchant might then provide scales that were unbalanced or coins that were not pure.

I heard a story long ago of a Christian woman who, asking for a word from the Lord, opened her Bible and put her finger down on a page and thus discovered this verse. She got out of this verse the message that she needed to lose weight. Whether true or not, that story says a lot about (1) the importance of reading Scripture in context and (2) resisting the desire to force our culture (and fashion?) into the ancient text!

Proverbs 11:2, Pride/humility

 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, 

but with humility comes wisdom.

Arrogance, pride, overconfidence lead to failure. Humility, that is, appropriate discernment of one's abilities and faults, is an important part of wisdom.

The Hebrew word (root tsana) translated "humility" is a rare word (says Kidner) and only appears one other place in the Old Testament, in Micah 6:8, where it is translated as "humbly."

Alter points out Hebrew wordplay in verse 2. The rhyming Hebrew words for pride and shame/disgrace are separated by a single word, so that one reads  zāḏōwn (pride) [leads to] qālōwn (shame/disgrace.) 

Proverbs 11:3, Integrity as a guide

 The integrity of the upright guides them, 

but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

With the appropriate discernment from verse 2 also comes integrity, which then serves as a natural guide in decision making. The upright have a good moral compass; the unfaithful are struggle to keep their lies coordinated.

Proverbs 11:4-6, Straight paths and freedom

 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, 

but righteousness delivers from death.

 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, 

but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, 

but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Righteousness trumps wealth (verse 4.)

We see the geometry of wisdom in verse 5: the righteous have a straight (and smooth) path; the wicked stumble "into a pot-hole" (Alter.)

In verse 6, the upright are delivered by their own habits of righteousness; but the unfaithful are enslaved by their desires. (This is an argument for righteous living and habits, separate from religious beliefs -- I recall long ago reading Socrates, who gives similar advice in Plato's Republic. Thank-you, professor McGrath.)

Proverbs 11:7-8, Come to nought

 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; 

all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

 The righteous man is rescued from trouble, 

and it comes on the wicked instead.

Even if the wicked man is rich, his wealth dissipates at death.  And when the righteous man is led to avoid trouble, the wicked man behind him falls into it. Kidner suggests that there may be a hint that the wicked man falls into the trap he set for the righteous man.

Proverbs 11:9, Gossip/knowledge

 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, 

but through knowledge the righteous escape.

Knowledge and understanding are an aid to the righteous while the godless consumes his time with gossip.

Proverbs 11:10-11, Community rejoices

 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; 

when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, 

but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

The community around the righteous prospers and rejoices; his city is lifted up while the wicked person destroys what is around him.

Proverbs 10:12-13, Confidence and gossip

 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,

but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

 A gossip betrays a confidence, 

but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

The man of understanding, who may indeed be frustrated with his neighbor, is careful in his speech. Indeed, he can keep a confidence and refuse to gossip. The fool gossips and runs down those around him/her.

Proverbs 11:14, Wise advisers

 For lack of guidance a nation falls, 

but many advisers make victory sure.

A national leader must work with wise counselors. This verse is a warning against a leader surrounding himself by "Yes men".

Proverbs 11:15, Don't pledge money!

 He who puts up security for another will surely suffer,

 but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.

This follows the financial advice of chapter 6:1-5; it is foolish to pledge one's money to cover someone else's debt. (Like all of Proverbs, this advice has some rare -- but carefully examined -- exceptions, exceptions in which one might genuinely be prepared to lose what they pledge.)

Proverbs 11:16-19, Effects of kindness/ruthlessness

 A kindhearted woman gains respect, 

but ruthless men gain only wealth.

 A kind man benefits himself, 

but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, 

but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

 The truly righteous man attains life, 

but he who pursues evil goes to his death.

The kindhearted wise person benefits himself/herself while the wicked hurt themselves and others. The description translated as "kind" (man) in verse 17 is the Hebrew word hesed, one of my favorite untranslatable words. Implied is that part of that man's kindness is loyalty and dependability.

Proverbs 11:20, YHWH delights in the righteous

 The LORD detests men of perverse heart 

but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

We are reminded that ultimately YHWH is watching over both the wicked and the righteous. (Here the "blameless" person is one with right actions.)

Proverbs 11:21, Final judgement

 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, 

but those who are righteous will go free.

This verse is an argument made in the book of Job, against Job. Once again, it is good to emphasize that Proverbs is Wisdom 101, a first brush of wisdom, everything in black and white. Job and Ecclesiastes add some color to these issues. 

Here, in this verse, the wicked are punished and the righteous set free. The book of Job would suggest that this eventually, ultimately, does happen but that the time between actions and retribution can be extremely long.

Both Kidner and Alter note that the Hebrew phrase translated "Be sure of this" is literally "hand to hand." The translation assumes that this expression refers to shaking hands, similar to the English expression, "You can shake hands on this."

Proverbs 11:22, A gold ring

 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout

is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

Alter suggests that this colorful verse, like Proverbs 10:26, is an answer to a riddle, "What is like a gold ring in a pig's snout?"

Proverbs 11:23, Desire/hope

 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, 

but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

This verse is similar to Proverbs 10:28. Desire and hope lead to different results for the righteous and wicked.

Proverbs 11:24-26, On generosity

 One man gives freely, yet gains even more;

 another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

 A generous man will prosper; 

he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

 People curse the man who hoards grain, 

but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.

These three verses all praise the generous person, the one who cares freely for others. In the ancient Near East, wealth could be linked to grain (see Joseph in Egypt, Genesis 41) and so the one who was generous did not hoard his grain. Implied in the last verse (says Kidner) is the greedy man who hoards his grain to drive up the selling price.

Proverbs 11:27-28, Seeking good/evil

 He who seeks good finds goodwill,

 but evil comes to him who searches for it.

 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, 

but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

The righteous seek good and find it; the wicked seek evil and find it. Righteousness is more important than wealth.

Proverbs 11:29, Inherit the wind

He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, 

and the fool will be servant to the wise.

Since all of us have access to the wind, there is no value in inheriting it. The wise gain in wealth; the fool becomes a bondservant.

Proverbs 11:30, A tree of life

 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, 

and he who wins souls is wise.

The "fruit" (consequences of past actions, says Alter) of the righteous leads to a stable tree of life (Psalm 1:3.) The one who helps rescue (or influence) others does so out of wisdom.

Proverbs 11:31, Axiom of retribution

 If the righteous receive their due on earth, 

how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Here is a clear statement of the axiom of retribution -- one receives what they sow -- a statement that so frustrated Job and anyone else who sees justice delayed.

The Septuagint form of this verse translates as "If the righteous is just saved, where is the ungodly and sinful?" In this form, the verse is quoted in the New Testament letter of Peter, 1 Peter 4:18.

Proverbs 10, Righteous Living, Wicked Living

Now that the writer of Proverbs has emphasized the importance of wisdom, we now move on to short proverbs that give wise advice. This section of Proverbs is separated from the first nine chapters by a simple statement at the beginning of verse 1:

 

Proverbs 10:1a, Now some proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon: 

Most of these proverbs, into chapter 22, form two lines, examples of antithetical parallelism, with the second line offering a path in opposition to the first. The second line often begins in English translations with the word "but", a word that does not appear in the Hebrew text.

 

Proverbs 10:1b-5, Righteous living verses wicked living

A wise son brings joy to his father, 

but a foolish son grief to his mother.

 Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, 

but righteousness delivers from death.

 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry 

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

 Lazy hands make a man poor, 

but diligent hands bring wealth.

 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, 

but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

We now have short two-line proverbs contrasting righteousness and wickedness. Righteousness is associated with wisdom; wickedness with foolishness and so, in verse 1 a wise child makes a parent happy; a wicked or foolish child bring grief. The parallelism of Hebrew poetry suggests that the second line not merely copy the first, so if the parent in the first line is the father then the parent in the second line is the mother. (And it is mothers who are often more deeply grieved by their children.)

In verses 2 through 5, we see a connection between wisdom, diligence and legitimate wealth, in contrast to scheming and laziness.

Proverbs 10:6-8, Diligence and laziness

 Blessings crown the head of the righteous, 

but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

 The memory of the righteous will be a blessing,

 but the name of the wicked will rot.

 The wise in heart accept commands, 

but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

The wicked speak violence, their names are associated with rot and decay, they chatter incessantly and come to ruin. In contrast, the blessings surround the righteous, even in their memory. One aspect of wisdom is accepting direction and criticism.

Proverbs 10:9, Deceit leads to disaster

 The man of integrity walks securely, 

but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

As in Proverbs 28:18, the evil person is eventually found out and ruined. According to the Gospel of Luke (see Luke 12:3), the Messiah said, what is said in secret will be revealed, shouted from the rooftops. Once could only wish, like Job, that this happened more often and more quickly!  

(Verses 6 to 8, in their description of the chattering, violent wicked, remind me of a particular US politician; verse 9 is reassuring, even in its delay.  I am sure my reactions are not unique to this country or time.)

Proverbs 10:10-12, Speech

 He who winks maliciously causes grief, 

and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, 

but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

 Hatred stirs up dissension, 

but love covers over all wrongs.

The chattering fool and the one who signals deceit cause pain and ruin. Such people are violent (the second line of verse 11 is the same as the second line of 6) and love to stir up hatred and dissension. In contrast, the words of the righteous are precious and help reconcile hurts.

Proverbs 10:13, Wisdom and punishment

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, 

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

The rod on the back must represent some type of punishment, such as a flogging/

Proverbs 10:14-17, Discipline and wealth

 Wise men store up knowledge, 

but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, 

but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

 The wages of the righteous bring them life, 

but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.

 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, 

but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Righteousness is linked to wisdom, wickedness to lack of judgment. There is no simple sin in wealth (verse 15) but it should be the wages of the righteous (verse 16.)

Alter suggests that verse 15, on wealth and poverty is almost a tautology. Of course the poor are ruined! (I am reminded of a quote from my father, "I'd rather be rich and healthy than sick and poor!", a parody on some of these proverbs.)  But in context, verse 15 simply assumes that wise actions and diligence lead to wealth and that that type of wealth is good.

Once again, in verse 17, there is an emphasis on accepting correction.

Proverbs 10:18-21, Slander and wise speech

He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, 

and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

 When words are many, sin is not absent, 

but he who holds his tongue is wise.

 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, 

but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

 The lips of the righteous nourish many, 

but fools die for lack of judgment.

It is good to think carefully about the words one says. The voice of the righteous (or their silence) is precious but the chattering, slandering fool does damage.

Proverbs 10:22, Peaceful wealth

 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, 

and he adds no trouble to it.

Obedience to YHWH bring wealth and satisfaction.

Proverbs 10:23, Delight in wisdom!

 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, 

but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

It is good to think carefully about the words one says. The voice of the righteous (or their silence) is precious but the chattering, slandering fool does damage.

Proverbs 10:24-25, Wicked swept away

 What the wicked dreads will overtake him; 

what the righteous desire will be granted.

 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, 

but the righteous stand firm forever.

The wicked are swept away; the righteous are stable and prosperous. (But see the book of Job!)

For a New Testament version of verse 25, see Matthew 7: 24-27.

Proverbs 10:26, What is vinegar to the teeth?

 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

 so is a sluggard to those who send him.

 

Alter suggests that this is an answer to a riddle, "What is vinegar to the teeth yet smoke to the eyes?" Answer: The sluggard to those who send him.

Proverbs 10:27-28, Long life

 The fear of the LORD adds length to life, 

but the years of the wicked are cut short.

 The prospect of the righteous is joy, 

but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

The lifestyle of the righteous leads to a long life and joy; not so the wicked. (The rod on the back must represent some type of punishment, such as a flogging?)

Proverbs 10:29-32, Stable

 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, 

but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

 The righteous will never be uprooted, 

but the wicked will not remain in the land.

 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, 

but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

 The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,

 but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

These verses focus on stability. The righteous are stable, deeply rooted, full of wisdom to navigate life. Their stability ultimately depends on "the way of YHWH." In contrast, the wicked are unstable, easily dismissed, with a perverse (crooked) lying tongue.