Proverbs 10:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:4

We are here told, 1. Who those are who, though rich, are in a fair way to become poor?those who deal with a slack hand, who are careless and remiss in their business, and never mind which end goes foremost, nor ever set their hands vigorously to their work or stick to it; those who deal with a deceitful hand (so it may be read); those who think to enrich themselves by fraud and tricking will, in the end, impoverish themselves, not only by bringing the curse of God on what they have, but by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:4

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand ,.... That is either remiss in giving to the necessities of others, according to his abilities, and as cases require; or that is negligent and slothful in his business. Or, "that worketh with a deceitful hand"; or, "with a hand of deceit" F21 כף רמיה "vola doli", Montanus; "fraudulenta manu", Tigurine version, Cocceius, Schultens; so Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis. , as it may be rendered; who pretends to work, but does not;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 10:4

He becometh poor - God has ordered, in the course of his providence, that he who will not work shall not eat. And he always blesses the work of the industrious man. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

The service of speech, etc "Man is a talking animal," we say. But if we are distinguished from the brute creation by the mere fact of speech, how truly are we divided from one another by the use we make of that human faculty! To what height of worthiness one man may rise, and what inestimable service he may render, but to what depth of wrong another man may fall, and what mischief he may work, by the use of his tongue! I. THE SERVICE OF SPEECH . "By our words" we may do great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:2-6

Four conditions of well being That we may enjoy a prosperity which is truly human, we must do well and be well in three directions—in our circumstances, in our mind (our intellectual powers), and in our character. And that which tends to build up on the one hand, or to destroy on the other hand, will be found to affect us in these three spheres. The conditions of well being as suggested by the passage are— I. RECTITUDE . ( Proverbs 10:2 , Proverbs 10:3 .) Righteousness before God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:2-7

Moral contrast in earthly lot and destiny I. ILL - GOTTEN WEALTH AND RECTITUDE . ( Proverbs 10:2 .) The former cannot avert sudden death or shame ( Proverbs 10:25 , Proverbs 10:27 ); the latter is vital , and stands the man in good stead in every hour of human trial, and of Divine judgment. II. HONEST POVERTY AND PROFLIGATE GREED . ( Proverbs 10:3 .) The former does not hunger , is contented with little, has true satisfaction. The latter is never... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:4

That dealeth with a stack hand; that is lazy and indolent (comp. Proverbs 6:10 , Proverbs 6:11 ; see on Proverbs 19:15 ). The Septuagint, with a different pointing, reads, "Poverty humbleth a man." The hand of the diligent ( Proverbs 12:24 ) maketh rich. The words for "hand" are different in the two clauses as Wordsworth remarks. The first word is caph , the open, ineffective, hand or palm; the second term is yad , the hand tense and braced for vigorous work. The LXX .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:4

Diligence Of late it has become fashionable to claim a cheap reputation for loftiness of moral aims by sneering at what are called the "smug virtues." There is a great deal about these despised virtues in the Book of Proverbs, and consequently a very low estimate is formed of that portion of Scripture. But is there not something hollow about this assumption of ethical elevation? It cannot be denied that the "smug virtues" have a real obligation. No one would venture to say that they can be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 10:4

Proverbs 10:4. He becometh poor Probably by slow degrees; that dealeth with a slack hand Who is negligent and slothful in his business. Hebrew, כ Š רמיה , with a deceitful hand, so called, partly because it seems, or pretends to do something, when, in truth, it doth nothing; and partly because such persons usually endeavour to maintain themselves by deceit and wickedness, instead of doing it by honest labour and diligence. But the hand of the diligent maketh rich Not by itself, nor... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

10:1-22:16PROVERBS OF SOLOMONThe proverbs in this section are usually written in a simple two-line form, each proverb usually being equal to one verse in our Bible. Although the editor of the book has in parts brought together proverbs dealing with a similar subject or principle, each proverb must be considered by itself.Clearly there is not enough space in a commentary of this size to explain each separate proverb. Readers will gain most benefit from Proverbs by reading it over a period (for... read more

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