Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 10

1. A collection of 375 separate verses on various subjects, marked by a new heading (Proverbs 10:1–22:16).

The proverbs of Solomon.— The new title and different style of composition mark a new collection of proverbs. (See above, in the Introduction.) Each verse is distinct and complete in itself; but the collector appears to have endeavored to throw together those that touched on the same subject. For instance, Proverbs 10:4–5 show why one person fails and another succeeds; Proverbs 10:6–7, how blessings and curses follow different people. But the connection is sometimes so slight as to be difficult to discern.

Treasures of wickedness—that is, gained by wrongdoing.

Righteousness delivers from death.—The Hebrew word translated “righteousness” has a much wider meaning than its English equivalent, which generally means only deciding fairly, being especially applied to judges. But a “righteous” man in Hebrew is one who “renders to all their due,” whether to God, as Noah, who was “just and perfect” before Him (Genesis 6:9; Genesis 7:1), or to man. To his fellow men, his “justice” will show itself in liberality (Psalms 37:21), mercy (Proverbs 12:10), carefulness of speech (Proverbs 15:28), truthfulness (Proverbs 13:5), and wisdom (Proverbs 9:9). He is considerate to animals also (Proverbs 12:10).

So in the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord (Matthew 6:1) says, Take heed that you do not your ‘righteousness’ [so the best manuscripts read] before men; and then specifies it under the headings of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.

In this passage, “righteousness” forms a contrast to riches gained by wrong and therefore would seem particularly to signify “almsgiving,” as its Greek equivalent does in 2 Corinthians 9:10.

It is often rendered this way by the Septuagint, and this is the most usual sense of the word in late Hebrew. It is also interpreted this way in Tobit 4:10 and Tobit 12:9, where this passage from Proverbs is quoted. (and our Lord’s advice, Luke 16:9.)

This “righteousness” delivers from death, as it is a sign of the divine life within, which is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

The Lord will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish. — Compare to David’s experience (Psalms 37:25), and the great promise of our Lord to those who seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). (Compare also below, Proverbs 13:25.)

He casts away the substance of the wicked. — Rather, He repels (the word is used in 2 Kings 4:27, of Gehazi “thrusting away” the Shunammite) the eager, passionate desire of the wicked. However much they long for it, they do not get it, because they ask amiss (James 4:3).

Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. — Curses and deeds of violence have proceeded from his mouth, but God frustrates them; they return unto him void (Isaiah 55:11), and, as it were, stop his mouth, reducing him to silence.

A prating fool (‘evîl). (See above, on Proverbs 1:7.)