Wesley's Notes on the Bible The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 10:2 Of wickedness - Such as are got by any sort of wicked practices. Death - Often from temporal, and always from eternal death.
The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 10:5 Gathereth - The fruits of his field. In summer - In harvest. He that improved the opportunities of doing good to himself and others.
Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 10:6 Violence - Their own violence or injustice. This may be an allusion to the ancient custom of covering the mouths and faces of condemned malefactors.
The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 10:8 Who receive - Is ready to hear and obey the precepts of God and men. Fall - Into mischief.
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10:9 Surely - Or, securely, or confidently, as the word properly signifies; quietly resting upon God's favour and gracious providence for his protections. Known - His wickedness shall be publickly discovered.
He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. 10:10 Winketh - That secretly designs mischief against others, as this phrase is used, Psal 35:19.
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 10:13 Wisdom - This wisdom shews itself in his speech. A rod - Rebukes from God and men.
Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. 10:14 Lay up - In their minds, to be brought forth upon fit occasions. Knowledge - Whereby they may be enabled to speak both what, and when it is seasonable. But - Fools are more forward to lay out than to lay up, and for want of knowledge speak much and foolishly, whereby they frequently bring destruction upon themselves.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 10:15 Wealth - It often redeems him from dangers and calamities. Poverty - Is the cause of their ruin.
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 10:16 The labour - The fruit of his labour, to the preservation of this life, and obtaining eternal life. Fruit - The fruit of all their labour tends to sin, and serves only for fuel to mens pride and luxury.
He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 10:18 Lying lips - With flattering words. He here condemns two opposite vices, secret hatred, and manifest slander.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 10:20 Is - Of great worth and use. Heart - And consequently the tongue.
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 10:21 Feed - By their wise discourses and counsels. Die - They have not wisdom to preserve themselves, much less to feed others.
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. 10:26 So - Unserviceable and vexatious.
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 10:28 Gladness - Shall be accomplished, and turned into enjoyment.
The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 10:29 The way - The way of God's precepts. Strength - Gives strength, support, and protection.
The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 10:30 Never be removed - They shall live happily here, and eternally in heaven. The earth - They shall not have so much as a quiet abode upon earth; much less shall they have any possession in heaven.
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. 10:32 The lips - Knowledge is here ascribed to the lips, as it is to the hands, Psal 78:72, because they are conducted by knowledge and wisdom. Acceptable - What is truly worthy of acceptation. Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible by John Wesley [1754-65] Bible Hub |
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