The big picture
Proverbs 10 opens in verse 1 with “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.”, and closes in verse 32 with “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh…” Repeated or prominent terms include wicked, righteous, mouth, lips, wise. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 32Proverbs 10:1-8
1–8: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish…
Proverbs 10:1–8 opens with “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of…” and reaches “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 10 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, mouth, lips, wise, with particular weight carried by wicked, wise, hand.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” Naming Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 10:1-8
King James Version1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
7The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
8The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Proverbs 10:9-16
9–16: He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his…
Proverbs 10:9–16 opens with “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.” and reaches “The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 10 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, mouth, lips, wise, with particular weight carried by mouth, covereth, destruction.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 10:9-16
King James Version9He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Proverbs 10:17-24
17–24: He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth…
Proverbs 10:17–24 opens with “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” and reaches “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 10 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, mouth, lips, wise, with particular weight carried by lips, fool, righteous.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include erreth, instruction, keepeth. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 10:17-24
King James Version17He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
22The blessing of the LORD , it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
23It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
24The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
Proverbs 10:25-32
25–32: As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is…
Proverbs 10:25–32 opens with “As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting…” and reaches “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 10 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, mouth, lips, wise, with particular weight carried by wicked, righteous, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.” The line’s distinctive content terms include everlasting, foundation, passeth. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
“The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 10:25-32
King James Version25As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
27The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
30The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 10:1 begins with “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 10:16 forms a natural hinge: “The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.”
The final note
Proverbs 10:32 leaves the reader with “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wicked, righteous, mouth, lips, wise, fool help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.