Spreuken 10 · Scripture Insight Network

1De spreuken van Salomo. Een wijs zoon verblijdt den vader; maar een zot zoon is zijner moeder droefheid.💬

2Schatten der goddeloosheid doen geen nut; maar de gerechtigheid redt van den dood.💬

3De HEERE laat de ziel des rechtvaardigen niet hongeren; maar de have der goddelozen stoot Hij weg.

4Die met een bedriegelijke hand werkt, wordt arm; maar de hand der vlijtigen maakt rijk.💬

5Die in den zomer vergadert, is een verstandig zoon; maar die in den oogst vast slaapt, is een zoon die beschaamd maakt.💬

6Zegeningen zijn op het hoofd des rechtvaardigen; maar het geweld bedekt den mond der goddelozen.💬

7De gedachtenis des rechtvaardigen zal tot zegening zijn; maar de naam der goddelozen zal verrotten.💬

8Die wijs van hart is, neemt de geboden aan; maar die dwaas is van lippen, zal omgeworpen worden.💬

9Die in oprechtheid wandelt, wandelt zeker; maar die zijn wegen verkeert, zal bekend worden.💬

10Die met het oog wenkt, richt smart aan; en een dwaas van lippen zal omgeworpen worden.💬

11De mond des rechtvaardigen is een springader des levens; maar het geweld bedekt den mond der goddelozen.💬

12Haat verwekt krakelen; maar de liefde dekt alle overtredingen toe.💬

13In de lippen des verstandigen wordt wijsheid gevonden; maar op den rug des verstandelozen de roede.💬

14De wijzen leggen wetenschap weg; maar den mond des dwazen is de verstoring nabij.💬

15Des rijken goed is een stad zijner sterkte; de armoede der geringen is hun verstoring.💬

16Het werk des rechtvaardigen is ten leven; de inkomst des goddelozen is ter zonde.💬

17Het pad tot het leven is desgenen die de tucht bewaart; maar die de bestraffing verlaat, doet dwalen.💬

18Die den haat bedekt, is van valse lippen, en die een kwaad gerucht voortbrengt, is een zot.💬

19In de veelheid der woorden ontbreekt de overtreding niet; maar die zijn lippen wederhoudt, is kloek verstandig.💬

20De tong des rechtvaardigen is uitgelezen zilver; het hart der goddelozen is weinig waard.💬

21De lippen des rechtvaardigen voeden er velen; maar de dwazen sterven door gebrek van verstand.

22De zegen des HEEREN, die maakt rijk; en Hij voegt er geen smart bij.💬

23Het is voor den zot als spel, schandelijkheid te doen; maar voor een man van verstand, wijsheid te plegen.💬

24De vreze des goddelozen, die zal hem overkomen; maar de begeerte der rechtvaardigen zal God geven.💬

25Gelijk een wervelwind voorbijgaat, alzo is de goddeloze niet meer; maar de rechtvaardige is een eeuwige grondvest.

26Gelijk edik den tanden, en gelijk rook den ogen is zo is de luie dengenen, die hem uitzenden.💬

27De vreze des HEEREN vermeerdert de dagen; maar de jaren der goddelozen worden verkort.💬

28De hoop der rechtvaardigen is blijdschap; maar de verwachting der goddelozen zal vergaan.

29De weg des HEEREN is voor den oprechte sterkte; maar voor de werkers der ongerechtigheid verstoring.💬

30De rechtvaardige zal in eeuwigheid niet bewogen worden; maar de goddelozen zullen de aarde niet bewonen.

31De mond des rechtvaardigen brengt overvloediglijk wijsheid voort; maar de tong der verkeerdheden zal uitgeroeid worden.💬

32De lippen des rechtvaardigen weten wat welgevallig is; maar de mond der goddelozen enkel verkeerdheid.

Commentaar (27)

Inleiding1

Spreuken 10

Proverbs 10

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Hitherto we have been in the porch or preface to the proverbs, here they begin. They are short but weighty sentences; most of them are distichs, two sentences in one verse, illustrating each other; but it is seldom that there is any coherence between the verses, much less any thread of discourse, and therefore in these chapters we need not attempt to reduce the contents to their proper heads, the several sentences will appear best in their own places. The scope of them all is to set before us good and evil, the blessing and the curse. Many of the proverbs in this chapter relate to the good government of the tongue, without which men's religion is vain.

Vers 11

Spreuken 10:1

Proverbs 10:1

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Solomon, speaking to us as unto children, observes here how much the comfort of parents, natural, political, and ecclesiastical, depends upon the good behaviour of those under their charge, as a reason, 1. Why parents should be careful to give their children a good education, and to train them up in the ways of religion, which, if it obtain the desired effect, they themselves will have the comfort of it, or, if not, they will have for their support under t…

Vers 21

Spreuken 10:2

Proverbs 10:2

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

These two verses speak to the same purport, and the latter may be the reason of the former. 1. That wealth which men get unjustly will do them no good, because God will blast it: Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, Pro 10:2. The treasures of wicked people, much more the treasure which they have made themselves masters of by any wicked people, by oppression of fraud, though it be ever so much, as a treasure, and laid up ever so safely, though it be hidd…

Vers 41

Spreuken 10:4

Proverbs 10:4

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

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 cu…

Vers 51

Spreuken 10:5

Proverbs 10:5

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Here is, 1. The just praise of those who improve their opportunities, who take pains to gather and increase what they have, both for soul and body, who provide for hereafter while provision is to be made, who gather in summer, which is gathering time. He who does so is a wise son, and it is his honour; he acts wisely for his parents, whom, if there be occasion, he ought to maintain, and he gives reputation to himself, his family, and his education. 2. The just reproach and blame of those who trifle away these opportunities: He who sleeps, loves his ease, idles away his time, and neglects his work, especially who sleeps in harvest, when he should be laying in for winter, who lets slip the season of furnishing himself with that which he will have occasion for, is a son that causes shame; for he is a foolish son; he prepares shame for himself when winter comes, and reflects shame upon all his friends. He who gets knowledge and wisdom in the days of his youth gathers in summer, and he will have the comfort and credit of his industry; but he who idles away the days of his youth will bear the shame of his indolence when he is old.

Vers 61

Spreuken 10:6

Proverbs 10:6

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Here is, 1. The head of the just crowned with blessings, with the blessings both of God and man. Variety of blessings, abundance of blessings, shall descend from above, and visibly abide on the head of good men, real blessings; they shall not only be spoken well of, but done well to. Blessings shall be on their head as a coronet to adorn and dignify them and as a helmet to protect and secure them. 2. The mouth of the wicked covered with violence. Their mouths shall be stopped with shame for the violence which they have done; they shall not have a word to say in excuse for themselves (Job 5:16); their breath shall be stopped with the violence that shall be done to them, when their violent dealings shall return on their heads, shall be returned to their teeth.

Vers 71

Spreuken 10:7

Proverbs 10:7

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Both the just and the wicked, when their days are fulfilled, must die. Between their bodies in the grave thee is no visible difference; between the souls of the one and the other, in the world of spirits, thee is a vast difference, and so there is, or ought to be, between their memories, which survive them. I. Good men are and ought to be well spoken of when they are gone; it is one of the blessings that comes upon the head of the just, even when their hea…

Vers 81

Spreuken 10:8

Proverbs 10:8

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Here is, 1. The honour and happiness of the obedient. They will receive commandments; they will take it as a privilege, and really an ease to them, to be under government, which saves them the labour of deliberating and choosing for themselves; and they will take it as a favour to be told their duty and admonished concerning it. And this is their wisdom; those are wise in heart who are tractable, and those who thus bend, thus stoop, shall stand and be esta…

Vers 91

Spreuken 10:9

Proverbs 10:9

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

We are here told, and we may depend upon it, 1. That men's integrity will be their security: He that walks uprightly towards God and man, that is faithful to both, that designs as he ought and means as he says, walks surely; he is safe under a divine protection and easy in a holy security. He goes on his way with a humble boldness, being well armed against the temptations of Satan, the troubles of the world, and the reproaches of men. he knows what ground…

Vers 101

Spreuken 10:10

Proverbs 10:10

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Mischief is here said to attend, 1. Politic, designing, self-disguising sinners: He that winks with the eye, as if he took no notice of you, when at the same time he is watching an opportunity to do you an ill turn, that makes signs to his accomplices when to come into assist him in executing his wicked projects, which are all carried on by trick and artifice, causes sorrow both to others and to himself. Ingenuity will be no excuse for iniquity, but the sinner must either repent or do worse, either rue it or be ruined by it. 2. Public, silly, self-exposing sinners: A prating fool, whose sins go before unto judgment, shall fall, as was said before, Pro 10:8. But his case is less dangerous of the two, and, though he destroys himself, he does not create so much sorrow to others as he that winks with his eyes. The dog that bites is not always the dog that barks.

Vers 111

Spreuken 10:11

Proverbs 10:11

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

See here, 1. How industrious a good man is, by communicating his goodness, to do good with it: His mouth, the outlet of his mind, is a well of life; it is a constant spring, whence issues good discourse for the edification of others, like streams that water the ground and make it fruitful, and for their consolation, like streams that quench the thirst of the weary traveller. It is like a well of life, that is pure and clean, not only not poisoned, but not muddled, with any corrupt communication. 2. How industrious a bad man is, by concealing his badness, to do hurt with it: The mouth of the wicked covers violence, disguises the designed mischief with professions of friendship, that it may be carried on the more securely and effectually, as Joab kissed and killed, Judas kissed and betrayed; this is his sin, to which the punishment answers (Pro 10:6): Violence covers the mouth of the wicked; what he got by violence shall by violence be taken from him, Job 5:4, Job 5:5.

Vers 121

Spreuken 10:12

Proverbs 10:12

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Here is, 1. The great mischief-maker, and that is malice. Even where there is no manifest occasion of strife, yet hatred seeks occasion and so stirs it up and does the devil's work. Those are the most spiteful ill-natured people that can be who take a pleasure in setting their neighbours together by the ears, by tale-bearing, evil surmises, and misrepresentations, blowing up the sparks of contention, which had lain buried, into a flame, at which, with an u…

Vers 131

Spreuken 10:13

Proverbs 10:13

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Observe, 1. Wisdom and grace are the honour of good men: He that has understanding, that good understanding which those have that do the commandments, wisdom is found in his lips, that is, it is discovered to be there, and consequently that he has within a good treasure of it, and it is derived thence for the benefit of others. It is a man's honour to have wisdom, but much more to be instrumental to make others wise. 2. Folly and sin are the shame of bad men: A rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding - of him that wants a heart; he exposes himself to the lashes of his own conscience, to the scourges of the tongue, to the censures of the magistrate, and to the righteous judgments of God. Those that foolishly and wilfully go on in wicked ways are preparing rods for themselves, the marks of which will be their perpetual disgrace.

Vers 141

Spreuken 10:14

Proverbs 10:14

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Observe, 1. It is the wisdom of the wise that they treasure up a stock of useful knowledge, which will be their preservation: Wisdom is therefore found in their lips (Pro 10:13), because it is laid up in their hearts, out of which store, like the good householder, they bring things new and old. Whatever knowledge may be at any time useful to us we must lay it up, because we know not but some time or other we may have occasion for it. We must continue laying up as long as we live; and be sure to lay it up safely, that it may not be to seek when we want it. 2. It is the folly of fools that they lay up mischief in their hearts, which is ready to them in all they say, and works terror and destruction both to others and to themselves. They love devouring words (Psa 52:4), and these come uppermost. Their mouth is near destruction, having the sharp arrows of bitter words always at hand to throw about.

Vers 151

Spreuken 10:15

Proverbs 10:15

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

This may be taken two ways: - 1. As a reason why we should be diligent in our business, that we may avoid that sinking dispiriting uneasiness which attends poverty, and may enjoy the benefit and comfort which those have that are beforehand in the world. Taking pains is really the way to make ourselves and our families easy. Or, rather, 2. As a representation of the common mistakes both of rich and poor, concerning their outward condition. (1.) Rich people think themselves happy because they are rich; but it is their mistake: The rich man's wealth is, in his own conceit, his strong city, whereas the worst of evils it is too weak and utterly insufficient to protect them from. It will prove that they are not so safe as they imagine; nay, their wealth may perhaps expose them. (2.) Poor people think themselves undone because they are poor; but it is their mistake: The destruction of the poor is their poverty; it sinks their spirits, and ruins all their comforts; whereas a man may live very comfortably, though he has but a little to live on, if he be but content, and keep a good conscience, and live by faith.

Vers 161

Spreuken 10:16

Proverbs 10:16

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Solomon here confirms what his father had said (Psa 37:16), A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. 1. Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for; he eats only the labour of his hands, but that labour tends to life; he aims at nothing but to get an honest livelihood, covets not to be rich and great, but is willing to live and maintain his family. Nor does it tend only to his own life, but he would enable himself to do good to others; he labours that he may have to give (Eph 4:28); all his business turns to some good account or other. Or it may be meant of his labour in religion; he takes most pains in that which has a tendency to eternal life; he sows to the Spirit, that he may reap life everlasting. 2. Perhaps a wicked man's wealth is fruit which he did not labour for, but came easily by, but it tends to sin. He makes it the food and fuel of his lusts, his pride and luxury; he gets hurt with it and not good; he gets hurt by it and is hardened by it in his wicked ways. The things of this world are good or evil, life or death, as they are used, and as those are that have them.

Vers 171

Spreuken 10:17

Proverbs 10:17

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

See here, 1. That those are in the right that do not only receive instruction, but retain it, that do not let it slip through carelessness, as most do, nor let it go to those that would rob them of it, that keep instruction safely, keep it pure and entire, keep it for their own use, that they may govern themselves by it, keep it for the benefit of others, that they may instruct them; those that do so are in the way of life, the way that has true comfort in it and eternal life at the end of it. 2. That those are in the wrong that do not only not receive instruction, but wilfully and obstinately refuse it when it is offered them. They will not be taught their duty because it discovers their faults to them; that instruction which carries reproof in it they have a particular aversion to, and certainly they err; it is a sign that they err in judgment, and have false notions of good and evil; it is a cause of their erring in conversation. The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it and shown the right way, must needs err still, err endlessly; he certainly misses the way of life.

Vers 181

Spreuken 10:18

Proverbs 10:18

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Observe here, Malice is folly and wickedness. 1. It is so when it is concealed by flattery and dissimulation: He is a fool, though he may think himself a politician, that hides hatred with lying lips, lest, if it break out, he should be ashamed before men and should lose the opportunity of gratifying his malice. Lying lips are bad enough of themselves, but have a peculiar malignity in them when they are made a cloak of maliciousness. But he is a fool who thinks to hide any thing from God. 2. It is no better when it is vented in spiteful and mischievous language: He that utters slander is a fool too, for God will sooner or later bring forth that righteousness as the light which he endeavours to cloud, and will find an expedient to roll the reproach away.

Vers 191

Spreuken 10:19

Proverbs 10:19

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

We are here admonished concerning the government of the tongue, that necessary duty of a Christian. 1. It is good to say little, because in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, or sin doth not cease. Usually, those that speak much speak much amiss, and among many words there cannot but be many idle words, which they must shortly give an account of. Those that love to hear themselves talk do not consider what work they are making for repentance; for that will be wanted, and first or last will be had, where there wanteth not sin. 2. It is therefore good to keep our mouth as with a bridle: He that refrains his lips, that often checks himself, suppresses what he has thought, and holds in that which would transpire, is a wise man; it is an evidence of his wisdom, and he therein consults his own peace. Little said is soon amended, Amo 5:13; Jam 1:19.

Vers 201

Spreuken 10:20

Proverbs 10:20

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

We are here taught how to value men, not by their wealth and preferment in the world, but by their virtue. I. Good men are good for something. Though they may be poor and low in the world, and may not have power and riches to do good with, yet, as long as they have a mouth to speak, that will make them valuable and useful, and upon that account we must honour those that fear the Lord, because out of the good treasure of their heart they bring forth good th…

Vers 221

Spreuken 10:22

Proverbs 10:22

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Worldly wealth is that which most men have their hearts very much upon, but they generally mistake both in the nature of the thing they desire and in the way by which they hope to obtain it; we are therefore told here, 1. What that wealth is which is indeed desirable, not having abundance only, but having it and no sorrow with it, no disquieting care to get and keep it, no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment of it, no tormenting grief for the loss of it, n…

Vers 231

Spreuken 10:23

Proverbs 10:23

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Here is, 1. Sin exceedingly sinful: It is as laughter to a fool to do mischief; it is as natural to him, and as pleasant, as it is to a man to laugh. Wickedness is his Isaac (that is the word here); it is his delight, his darling, and that in which he pleases himself. He makes a laughing matter of sin. When he is warned not to sin, from the consideration of the law of God and the revelation of his wrath against sin, he makes a jest of the admonition, and l…

Vers 241

Spreuken 10:24

Proverbs 10:24

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

It is here said, and said again, to the righteous, that it shall be well with them, and to the wicked, Woe to them; and these are set the one over against the other, for their mutual illustration. I. It shall be as ill with the wicked as they can fear, and as well with the righteous as they can desire. 1. The wicked, it is true, buoy themselves up sometimes in their wickedness with vain hopes which will deceive them, but at other times they cannot but be h…

Vers 261

Spreuken 10:26

Proverbs 10:26

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Observe, 1. Those that are of a slothful disposition, that love their ease and cannot apply their minds to any business, are not fit to be employed, no, not so much as to be sent on an errand, for they will neither deliver a message with any care nor make any haste back. Such therefore are very unmeet to be ministers, Christ's messengers; he will not own the sending forth of sluggards into his harvest. 2. Those that are guilty of so great an oversight as to entrust such with any affair, and put confidence in them, will certainly have vexation with them. A slothful servant is to his master as uneasy and troublesome as vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes; he provokes his passion, as vinegar sets the teeth on edge, and occasions him grief to see his business neglected and undone, as smoke sets the eyes a weeping.

Vers 271

Spreuken 10:27

Proverbs 10:27

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Observe, 1. Religion lengthens men's lives and crowns their hopes. What man is he that loves life? Let him fear God, and that will secure him from many things that would prejudice his life, and secure to him life enough in this world and eternal life in the other; the fear of the Lord will add days more than was expected, will add them endlessly, will prolong them to the days of eternity. What man is he that would see good days? Let him be religious, and t…

Vers 291

Spreuken 10:29

Proverbs 10:29

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

These two verses are to the same purport with those next before, intimating the happiness of the godly and the misery of the wicked; it is necessary that this be inculcated upon us, so loth are we to believe and consider it. 1. Strength and stability are entailed upon integrity: The way of the Lord (the providence of God, the way in which he walks towards us) is strength to the upright, confirms him in his uprightness. All God's dealings with him, merciful…

Vers 311

Spreuken 10:31

Proverbs 10:31

Matthew HenryENDevotioneel

Gereformeerd

Here, as before, men are judged of, and, accordingly, are justified or condemned, by their words, Mat 12:37. 1. It is both the proof and the praise of a man's wisdom and goodness that he speaks wisely and well. A good man, in his discourse, brings forth wisdom for the benefit of others. God gives him wisdom as a reward of his righteousness (Ecc 2:26), and he, in gratitude for that gift and justice to the giver, does good with it, and with his wise and pious discourses edifies many. He knows what is acceptable, what discourse will be pleasing to God (for that is it that he studies more than to oblige the company), and what will be agreeable both to the speaker and to the hearers, what will become him and benefit them, and that he will speak. 2. It is the sin, and will be the ruin, of a wicked man, that he speaks wickedly like himself. The mouth of the wicked speaks frowardness, that which is displeasing to God and provoking to those he converses with; and what is the issue of it? Why, the froward tongue shall be cut out, as surely as the flattering one, Psa 12:3.