The hope of the righteous shall be gladness. The patient expectation of the righteous is joyful, because it has good hope of being, and is, fulfilled. So the apostle ( Romans 12:12 ) speaks, "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation." Septuagint, "Gladness delayeth for the just." The expectation of the wicked; that which the wicked eagerly hope for shall come to naught ( Proverbs 11:7 ; Job 8:13 ; Psalms 112:10 ). read more
The hope of the righteous I. WE ALL LIVE BY HOPE . The righteous has his "hope," the wicked his "expectation;" both live in the future. The present takes its colours chiefly from our anticipations of the future. It is dark or bright according as shadows or light fall on it from that visionary world. The man who has no hope here or hereafter is practically dead. Despair is suicide. Hence the importance of seeing to our hopes. If they are ill-grounded, all life is a mistake. II.... read more
The way of the Lord; i.e. the way in which he has commanded, men to walk—the way of his commandments ( Psalms 25:12 ; Psalms 119:27 ), that which the Pharisees confessed that Christ taught ( Matthew 22:16 ). The Septuagint renders, "the fear of the Lord," which practically gives the meaning. Or "the Lord's way" may be his moral government of the world. Strength ; better a fortress ( Proverbs 10:15 ). Doing his simple duty, a good man is safe; for, as St. Peter says, "Who is he... read more
The righteous shall never be removed ( Proverbs 2:21 ; Proverbs 12:3 , Proverbs 12:21 ; Psalms 10:6 ; Psalms 37:29 ). This is in agreement with the temporal promise made to the patriarchs and often renewed, as in the fifth commandment. St. Paul says ( 1 Timothy 4:8 ), "Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come." The wicked shall not inhabit (or, abide not in ) the land. The punishment of exile was threatened... read more
Bringeth forth; as a tree produces fruit, and the fields yield their increase. The metaphor is common. Thus Isaiah ( Isaiah 57:19 ) speaks of "the fruit of the lips" (comp. Hebrews 13:15 and Psalms 37:30 , which latter passage occurs in the same connection as the present). The Septuagint renders, "distilleth wisdom." So So Isaiah 5:13 , "His lips are like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh." The froward tongue ( Proverbs 2:12 , Proverbs 2:14 : Proverbs 8:13 , which speaks... read more
Righteousness and wisdom These two attributes appear to belong to different spheres—the one to the moral and the other to the intellectual. Yet they are here associated as parent and child, and righteousness is seen to sprout into wisdom. Righteous men are represented as speaking wisely. Now, we know that good people have not a monopoly of intellect. Aristides the virtuous was not as clever as Themistocles. There are small-minded saints, and there are sinners of giant intellect. Where,... read more
Know . A good man's lips are conversant with what is acceptable to God and man. Such a person considers what will please God and edify his neighbour, and speaks in conformity therewith. The LXX . has," The lips of the righteous distil graces ;" ἀποστάζει χάριτας , but probably the right verb is ἐπίσταται , which is found in some manuscripts. Speaketh frowardnsss; rather, knoweth, or is perverseness (comp. Ephesians 4:29 ); Septuagint, ἀποστρέφεται , or,... read more
A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000. Here properly begins the book of Proverbs, as the title of this chapter tells us; what hath been delivered hitherto being rather a preface, or introduction, to the work; to awaken attention, and, from sundry arguments, to recommend the wise instructions, which now follow, to every one’s practice; and to caution those who would receive benefit by these instructions, against such things as might hinder their edification in the school of wisdom. Her lessons, in this first... read more
Proverbs 10:1. The Proverbs of Solomon Properly so called; for the foregoing chapters, although they had this title in the beginning of them, yet, in truth, were only a preparation to them, intended to stir up men’s minds to the greater attention to all the precepts of wisdom, whereof some here follow; see the argument prefixed to this chapter. A wise son That is, prudent, and especially virtuous and godly, as this word commonly signifies in this book, and in many other parts of... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:27-32
Impression by tautology These verses contain mostly iterations of maxims already delivered (on Proverbs 10:27 , see on Proverbs 3:2 ; Proverbs 9:11 ; on verse 28, see on verse 24; Proverbs 11:7 ). That religion is a protector to the man of good conscience, while overthrow awaits the ungodly, again brings out an often expressed thought with emphasis ( Proverbs 10:30 ; see on Proverbs 10:25 ; Proverbs 3:21 ). Proverbs 10:31 , Proverbs 10:32 again contrast the speech of the... read more