Read & explore together
Solomon’s Proverbs: The Wise Son
Proverbs 10 opens a set of Solomon’s proverbs by placing two paths side by side. These short sayings compare wisdom and folly in family life, work, speech, correction, and the outcomes that follow.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is wisdom writing, not a story. It begins, “The proverbs of Solomon,” then moves through brief contrasts. The sayings repeatedly set the wise or righteous beside the foolish or wicked, showing habits that fit each path and the results linked with them.
Proverbs 10:1–32Main takeaway
Proverbs 10 presents wisdom as a way of life seen in righteous conduct, diligent work, teachable hearts, careful speech, and reverence for Yahweh.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Wisdom shows in family life and workThe opening sayings connect wisdom with ordinary responsibilities. A wise son brings gladness, while a foolish son brings grief.
Explanation
The opening sayings connect wisdom with ordinary responsibilities. A wise son brings gladness, while a foolish son brings grief. Wicked gain has no profit, but righteousness delivers from death. Diligent hands bring wealth, and gathering in summer is wise, unlike sleeping at harvest and causing shame.
02The righteous walk openly and receive instructionNext, the chapter highlights integrity and teachability. Blessings rest on the righteous, and their memory is blessed.
Explanation
Next, the chapter highlights integrity and teachability. Blessings rest on the righteous, and their memory is blessed. The wise in heart accept commandments. One who walks blamelessly walks securely, but one who perverts his ways will be found out. Wisdom is not merely cleverness but a life shaped by right instruction.
03Words can give life or bring ruinFrom verse 10 onward, many sayings focus on speech. The righteous mouth is a spring of life, while hatred, slander, and foolish talk damage people.
Explanation
From verse 10 onward, many sayings focus on speech. The righteous mouth is a spring of life, while hatred, slander, and foolish talk damage people. Love covers wrongs, discernment speaks wisely, and restraint is wise. The lips of the righteous are compared to something valuable and nourishing for others.
04Correction, desire, and lasting outcomesThe final sayings link present choices with future outcomes. Heeding correction is the way of life.
Explanation
The final sayings link present choices with future outcomes. Heeding correction is the way of life. Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, while fools take pleasure in wickedness. The wicked fear what will overtake them, but the righteous receive their desire. The righteous stand firm, have joy, and are not removed, while the wicked are no more, their hope perishes, and they will not dwell in the land.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How do the first sayings connect wisdom with everyday responsibility?
Look at the contrasts about the son, the diligent hand, and gathering in summer rather than sleeping during harvest.
02Which verses show that speech can either help people or harm them?
Compare the mouth that is a spring of life and lips that feed many with hatred, slander, and many words that lead toward trouble.
03What outcomes does this passage place before the righteous and the wicked near the end of the chapter?
Notice the sayings about desire, fear, standing firm, joy, hope, and whether each group remains in the land.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Proverbs 10:1–32
1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.
3Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
4He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
5He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.
9He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10One who winks with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.
11The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
13Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
14Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
17He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
19In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
20The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
22Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
23It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
24What the wicked fear will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.
26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.
29The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.