Proverbs 10:7

10:7. Both the just and the wicked must die; but between their souls there is a vast difference. 8. The wise in heart puts his knowledge in practice. 9. Dissemblers, after all their shuffling, will be exposed. 10. Trick and artifice will be no excuse for iniquity. 11. The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others. 12. Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved. 13. Those that foolishly go on in wicked ways, prepare rods for themselves. 14. Whatever knowledge may be useful, we must lay it up, that it may not be to seek when we want it. The wise gain this wisdom by reading, by hearing the word, by meditation, by prayer, by faith in Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom. 15. This refers to the common mistakes both of rich and poor, as to their outward condition. Rich people's wealth exposes them to many dangers; while a poor man may live comfortably, if he is content, keeps a good conscience, and lives by faith. 16. Perhaps a righteous man has no more than what he works hard for, but that labour tends to life. 17. The traveller that has missed his way, and cannot bear to be told of it, and to be shown the right way, must err still. 18. He is especially a fool who thinks to hide anything from God; and malice is no better. 19. Those that speak much, speak much amiss. He that checks himself is a wise man, and therein consults his own peace. 20,21.

The memory of the just is blessed,.... Men to whom he has been useful, either in temporals or spirituals, bless him, or wish all blessings to him while alive, whenever they make mention of his name; and after death they speak well of him, and pronounce him blessed; for such are had in everlasting remembrance; the memory of them is sweet and precious; their name is famous and valuable, and always spoken of with honour and commendation; see Psalm 112:6 . The Jewish writers take it for a command, and render it, "let the memory of the just be blessed"; and say, that he that transgresses it breaks an affirmative precept; they make an abbreviation of the word by the initial letters, and join them to the names of their celebrated men; but the name of the wicked shall rot; shall be forgotten, be buried in oblivion, and never mentioned: and though they may call their houses, lands, and cities, by their own names, in order to transmit their memory to posterity; yet these, by one means or another, are destroyed, and their memorials perish with them; see Ecclesiastes 8:10; and if their names are mentioned after they are gone, it is with detestation and abhorrence, as things putrefied are abhorred; so they leave an ill savour behind them, when the good name of the righteous is as precious ointment, Ecclesiastes 7:1. It is a saying of Cicero (a), that "the life of the dead lies in the memory of the living.'' (a) Orat. 51. Philip. 9.

Thus, as Proverbs 10:6 says how it goes with the righteous and the wicked in this life, so this verse tells how it fares with them after death: The memory of the righteous remains in blessings, And the name of the godless rots. The tradition regarding the writing of זכר with five (זכר) or six points (זכר) is doubtful (vid., Heidenheim in his ed. of the Pentateuch, Mer Enajim, under Exodus 17:14); the Cod. 1294 and old printed copies have here זכר. Instead of לברכה, יברך might be used; the phrase היה לברכה (opp. היה לקללה, often used by Jeremiah), subordinate to the substantival clause, paraphrases the passive, for it expresses a growing to something, and thus the entrance into a state of endurance. The remembrance of the righteous endures after his death, for he is thought of with thankfulness (צל''ז equals זכר צדיק לברכה, the usual appendix to the name of an honoured, beloved man who has died), because his works, rich in blessing, continue; the name of the godless, on the contrary, far from continuing fresh and green (Psalm 62:1-12 :17) after his departure, becomes corrupt (רקב, from רק, to be or to become thin, to dissolve in fine parts, tabescere), like a worm-eaten decayed tree (Isaiah 40:20). The Talmud explains it thus, Joma 38b: foulness comes over their name, so that we call no one after their name. Also the idea suggests itself, that his name becomes corrupt, as it were, with his bones; the Mishnah, at least Ohaloth ii. 1, uses רקב of the dust of corruption.

[Bible] 9:17. Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant. 9:18. And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell. Proverbs Chapter 10 In the twenty following chapters are contained many wise sayings and axioms, relating to wisdom and folly, virtue and vice. 10:1. A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother. 10:2. Treasures of wickedness shall profit nothing: but justice shall deliver from death. 10:3. The Lord will not afflict the soul of the just with famine, and he will disappoint the deceitful practices of the wicked. 10:4. The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: and the same runneth after birds, that fly away. 10:5. He that gathereth in the harvest, is a wise son: but he that snorteth in the summer, is the son of confusion. 10:6. The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked. 10:7. The memory of the just is with praises: and the name of the wicked shall rot. 10:8. The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips. 10:9. He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently: but he that perverteth his ways, shall be manifest. 10:10. He that winketh with the eye, shall cause sorrow: and the foolish in lips shall be beaten. 10:11. The mouth of the just is a vein of life: and the mouth of the wicked covereth iniquity. 10:12. Hatred stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins. 10:13. In the lips of the wise is wisdom found: and a rod on the back of him that wanteth sense. 10:14. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to confusion. 10:15. The substance of a rich man is the city of his strength: the fear of the poor is their poverty. 10:16. The work of the just is unto life: but the fruit of the wicked unto sin. 10:17. The way of life, to him that observeth correction: but he that forsaketh reproofs, goeth astray.

slack —literally, "deceitful," failing of its purpose (compare Hosea 7:16). maketh rich —(compare Proverbs 10:22). 5. son —as Proverbs 1:8, 10, and often. sleepeth —in indolence, and not for rest. causeth shame —literally, "is base" (compare Proverbs 14:35; 17:2). 6. Blessings —literally, "Praises." The last clause is better: "The mouth of the wicked covereth (or concealeth) violence (or mischievous devices)" to be executed in due time (Psalms 5:9; 10:7; Romans 3:14), and hence has no praises (compare Proverbs 10:11). 7. blessed —literally, "for a blessing," or praise. shall rot —literally, "be worm-eaten," useless and disgusting. 8. wise, &c.—(compare Proverbs 9:8, 9, 16), opposed to prating fool —or, "fool of lips of wicked language." fall —headlong, suddenly. 9. perverteth his ways —acts deceitfully. known —discovered and punished. ## 10. Two vices contrasted; hypocrisy, or insinuating evil against one (Proverbs 6:13; Psalms 35:19), and rashness of speech. In each case, the results are on the evildoers. 11. a well —or, "source" of good to himself and others (John 7:37, 38). On last clause, see on Proverbs 10:6. 12. strifes —or, "litigations." covereth —by forgiveness and forbearance. 13. In the lips … found —hence, not beaten, as the wicked-speaking fool. void of understanding —(Proverbs 6:32; 7:7). 14. lay up knowledge —that is, as treasures for good use. mouth … destruction —or, "as to the mouth," &c., destruction is near; they expose themselves to evil by prating. 15.

clamorous —or, "noisy" (Proverbs 7:11). knoweth nothing —literally, "knoweth not what," that is, is right and proper. ## 14. on a seat —literally, "throne," takes a prominent place, impudently and haughtily. 15, 16. to allure those who are right-minded, and who are addressed as in Proverbs 9:4, as simple —that is, easily led (Proverbs 1:4) and unsettled, though willing to do right. 17. The language of a proverb, meaning that forbidden delights are sweet and pleasant, as fruits of risk and danger. 18. (Compare Proverbs 2:18, 19; 7:27). ## CHAPTER 10 Proverbs 10:1-32. Here begins the second part of the book, Proverbs 10:1-22:16, which, with the third, Proverbs 22:16-25:28, contains series of proverbs whose sense is complete in one or two verses, and which, having no logical connection, admit of no analysis. The parallelisms of Proverbs 10:1-15:33 are mostly antithetic; and those of Proverbs 16:1-22:16, synthetic. The evidences of art in the structure are very clear, and indicate, probably, a purpose of facilitating the labor of memorizing. 1. wise [and] foolish —as they follow or reject the precepts of wisdom. maketh … father —or, "gladdens a father." heaviness —or, "grief." 2. Treasures … nothing —that is, Ill-gotten gains give no true happiness (compare Proverbs 4:17; Matthew 6:19). righteousness —especially beneficence (Psalms 112:9). death —the greatest of all evils. 3. (Compare Psalms 37:16-20). The last clause is better: "He will repel the greedy desires of the wicked." 4.