31 Days of Wisdom: Day 10 - Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10 Background
Proverbs 10 is a collection of 32 brief sayings. Many of the sayings contrast the righteous with the wicked or the diligent with the lazy.

Proverbs 10
Wise Sayings of Solomon
1 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
But righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish,
But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart will receive commands,
But a prating fool will fall.
9 He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble,
But a prating fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all sins.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
14 Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.
18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.
23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Pastor's Reflection
The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. - Proverbs 10:29

The safest and best path to follow throughout one's life is the way of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). This is true much as a doctor's advice makes a person more likely to live a long, healthy life, even if accidents or violence can still occur. From an eternal perspective, pursuing God leads to eternal life (John 3:36; 10:28). Those who are "blameless," in this context, are not people who are "sinless." Rather, they are those who choose to honor God with their thoughts and actions, such that other people have no valid criticisms (Proverbs 2:7; Psalm 119:1). This follows the pattern of this part of Proverbs (Proverbs 10:27–28, 30).

However, the same truth that encourages believers predicts destruction for evildoers. The first chapter of Nahum makes these truths clear. This chapter describes the Lord as avenging and wrathful against His adversaries. It asks, "Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger?" (Nahum 1:6). However, against the backdrop of God's judgment on evildoers is His goodness and protection for those who take refuge in Him (Nahum 1:7).

Encouraging believers who were experiencing heavy persecution, Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:12–14: "'The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.' Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled."

Reflections
1. How does love cover sin – 10:12? Does this mean we should simply overlook the sins of others?

2. According to 10:17, why is it important to have the proper attitude toward instruction as compared to reproof? How does this differ from the way people often think?

3. How will Proverbs 10 be a part of your life?