Proverbs 10:12-22

TEXT Proverbs 10:12-22

12.

Hatred stirreth up strifes;

But love covereth all transgressions.

13.

In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found;

But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14.

Wise men lay up knowledge;

But the mouth of the foolish is a present 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 tendeth to life;

The increase of the wicked, to sin.

17.

He is in the way of life that heedeth correction;

But he that forsaketh reproof erreth.

18.

He that hideth hatred is of lying lips;

And he that utterth a slander is a fool.

19.

In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression;

But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

20.

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver:

The heart of the wicked is little worth.

21.

The lips of the righteous feed many;

But the foolish die for lack of understanding.

22.

The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich;

And he addeth no sorrow therewith.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 10:12-22

1.

How does love cover transgressions (Proverbs 10:12)?

2.

What is meant by one having discernment (Proverbs 10:13)?

3.

Why don-'t more people lay up knowledge (Proverbs 10:14)?

4.

To whom is the mouth of fools a present destructionto themselves or others (Proverbs 10:14)?

5.

What is meant by one's wealth being his strong city (Proverbs 10:15)?

6.

What kind of life does righteous labor lead to (Proverbs 10:16)?

7.

What is meant by the increase of the wicked (Proverbs 10:16)?

8.

What is meant by the way of life (Proverbs 10:17)?

9.

Name several persons in the Bible who forsook reproof (Proverbs 10:17).

10.

What might one say (lying lips) who is concealing his hatred (Proverbs 10:18)?

11.

What two words in Proverbs 10:18 are contrasts?

12.

Why do a multitude of words result in transgression (Proverbs 10:19)?

13.

How is the tongue of the righteous like choice silver (Proverbs 10:20)?

14.

What other Bible passages speak of words-' feeding people (Proverbs 10:21)?

15.

What kind of death does Proverbs 10:21 have in mind?

16.

Does the blessing of Jehovah make some people or all people rich (Proverbs 10:22)? Explain.

17.

What is implied by some riches when it says, He addeth no sorrow therewith (Proverbs 10:22)?

PARAPHRASE OF 10:12-22

12.

Hatred stirs old quarrels, but love overlooks insults.

13.

Men with common sense are admired as counselors; those without it are beaten as servants.

14.

A wise man holds his tongue. Only a fool blurts out everything he knows; that only leads-' to sorrow and trouble.

15.

The rich man's wealth is his only strength. The poor man's poverty is his only curse.

16.

The good man's earnings advance the cause of righteousness. The evil man squanders his on sin.

17.

Anyone willing to be corrected is on the pathway to life. Anyone refusing has lost his chance.

18.

To hate is to be a liar; to slander is to be a fool.

19.

Don-'t talk so much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible and turn off the flow!

20.

When a good man speaks, he is worth listening to, but the words of fools are a dime a dozen.

21.

A godly man gives good advice, but a rebel is destroyed by lack of common sense.

22.

The Lord's blessing is our grestest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it!

COMMENTS ON 10:12-22

Proverbs 10:12. Hatred does not desire the fellowship of the one hated, does not wish the peace and the welfare of the one hated. Hatred must show itself, and the result is trouble and strife. Hatred will stir up strife by picking on all the small talking points that love would have overlooked (1 Corinthians 13:4). The soft answer (of love) will turn away wrath, but the grievous words (of hatred) will stir up strife (Proverbs 15:1). Other Scriptures on love's covering or concealing faults: Proverbs 17:9; 1 Peter 4:8.

Proverbs 10:13 One who is wise has discerning lips; that is, he knows what to say and what not to say, when to say it and when not to, how to say it and how not to, how much to say, where to say it and where not to, etc. Jesus-' perfection was also seen in this. Peter's imperfection often exhibited itself in this (Matthew 16:21-23; Luke 9:32-35; John 21:19-22. Proper speech is a crowning virtue (James 3:2). During World War II Uncle Sam was shown on posters with his finger saying, Sh-h-h. Another government poster during that war showed a big ship sinking and included these few words, Somebody talked! No wonder Proverbs 26:3 says, A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

Proverbs 10:14. A wise man does more listening (taking in, laying up) than he does talking; the fool, just the opposite. See Proverbs 18:7; Proverbs 21:23. Christians are taught to be swift to hear but slow to speak (James 1:19).

Proverbs 10:15. The opening statement is also in Proverbs 18:11. Strong city means that in which he trusts. There are those who trust in their riches (Psalms 52:7). 1 Timothy 6:17 forbids it, and Jesus said such cannot enter heaven (Mark 10:24). Job recognized that to make riches one's confidence is to deny God (Job 31:24-28).

Proverbs 10:16. The labor of the righteous is good for him: he enjoys his food, he sleeps well, he is healthy, and his mind is not troubled. Ecclesiastes 5:12 says, The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. The increase of the wicked is not good for him, for it but leads to sin. Luxury and licentious living often go together. Kings as a group (the wealthies in the land) were usually not godly. Ecclesiastes 10:17 says, Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

Proverbs 10:17. In Proverbs 10:16 labor led to life; in this verse heeding correction does. All people make mistakes and will be corrected: as children by parents (Hebrews 12:9), school teachers, and other adults; later in life by employers, neighbors, mates, God's leaders, and even God through chastening (Hebrews 12:5-6). David listened to what Abigail had to say, saw the wisdom of it, and wisely changed his course (1 Samuel 25:32-33). For other passages on heeding correction see Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 15:5; Proverbs 15:31-32. But there will always be those who forsake reproof, and they will not prosper (Proverbs 15:10). See also Proverbs 1:25-26.

Proverbs 10:18. Hideth and uttereth are obvious contrasts. Those who seek to hide their true feelings will lie. When asked, What's the matter? or What have I done that's wrong? they will reply, Nothing. When asked, Why are you upset? they will say, I-'m not upset. See also Proverbs 20:24-26. On the other hand to slander (defame) is foolish and wrong (Matthew 5:21-22). The word devil means slanderer. We must be careful not to be guilty of doing the same thing (1 Timothy 3:11). We should neither hide hatreds nor utter slanders. We can only avoid such a dilemma by getting hatred out of our hearts, which we are commanded to do (Ephesians 4:31).

Proverbs 10:19. Ecclesiastes 5:3 says a fool's voice is known, is recognized, by its multitude of words. James 1:19 says we are to be slow to speak. See also Proverbs 17:28. Those who speak incessantly will surely sometime speak when they should be listening, will say some things that shouldn-'t be said, and will sometime speak before they think. Speak little, because for one sin which we may commit by keeping silence where it would be well to speak, we commit a hundred by speaking upon all occasions (Pinart).

Proverbs 10:20. A triple contrast: tongue vs. heart; the righteous vs. the wicked; choice silver vs. little worth. The little worth of the wicked person's heart is seen in that contains no praise for God and no love for his fellowman.

Proverbs 10:21. In this verse feed is set over against die. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge (Proverbs 15:7). Jesus fed multitudes with His teachings. Teachers of God's Word feed the flock of God (Acts 20:28). Paul fed many people in many places. We too can edify (build people up) with our lips (Ephesians 4:29). People need this knowledge, for they will die for lacking it or for disregarding it (Hosea 4:6). Why does a mouse die in a trap or a fish die on the end of a hook? Because they didn-'t know what would happen by biting the bait.

Proverbs 10:22. When Israel did right, God blessed them and enriched them. They were not made rich by their own power but by God's (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Compare Genesis 24:35; Genesis 26:12; Psalms 37:22. Those who gain riches without regard for God both err from the faith and pierce themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:9-10). When people get money in their own way, they often resort to crookedness, and all kinds of troubles follow. Unsanctified riches bring only trouble and vexation (Pulpit Commentary). God's riches are a blessing all the way (no sorrow therewith).

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 10:12-22

1.

Why does hatred stir up strife (Proverbs 10:12)?

2.

In what way does love cover transgression (Proverbs 10:12)?

3.

How does one show that he/she has discerning lips (Proverbs 10:13)?

4.

What two verses extolled listening and condemned excessive talking?

5.

Why is a rich man's riches referred to as his strong city (Proverbs 10:15)?

6.

What did Jesus say about those who trust in riches (Proverbs 10:15)?

7.

In what ways is the labor of the righteous good for him (Proverbs 10:16)?

8.

What often happens when the wicked increase in riches (Proverbs 10:16)?

9.

What are some of the groups or individuals who will correct us throughout life (Proverbs 10:17)?

10.

What is better than hiding hatred within or uttering slander without (Proverbs 10:18)?

11.

How do we know that slander is of the devil (Proverbs 10:18)?

12.

Whose voice is known by its multitude of words (Proverbs 10:19)?

13.

How does Proverbs 10:20 describe the worth of the righteous person's tongue?

14.

How does Proverbs 10:20 describe the worth of the wicked person's heart?

15.

How can we feed people with words (Proverbs 10:21)?

16.

What often happens when people obtain riches for themselves without regard for God (Proverbs 10:22)?

17.

How do riches gained from God's blessings differ (Proverbs 10:22)?