Proverbs 10:1-16

Proverbs 10:1-16

This begins a collection of proverbial sayings that will continue till 22:16. Each of these proverbs generally provides a two-part antithetical conclusion. It's almost as if we have the moral of the story without hearing the story. But that is okay because we all could supply a story. For those who love to hear, tell, read, or make up stories, these proverbs are a springboard of memory and imagination. The contrast between the parts of the couplets is essential, and each enriches the other. Do not be too hasty to read through these golden sayings. Recalling a story to which these are fitting conclusions, discovering them, sharing them, and chewing them over is when we get the most from them.

It will not be possible to address all of these 376 proverbs individually. So individually we will need to take time to find the story that will stand out to you as a fitting conclusion. There are some proverbs that, for cultural or linguistic reasons, are more obscure. On these we will focus energy and time and hopefully find an event or story to which each proverb is the moral of the story.

In verses 8 to 11 we see a short collection of proverbs that share the theme of open honesty versus evil plots. The phrase "the chattering of fools comes to ruin” (NIV) is repeated in 8 and 10. The meaning of this phrase is more than English translations provide. It carries the implication that the fool's mouth will at any moment bring out and expose the secret plot and cause the ruin of the conspirators. In verses 8, 9, and 11, we see the security of the righteous person. In verse 10a we see the clever conspirator who has secret signals for his companions in crime, but one of them is a fool who will, in one way or another, blab what is afoot. In verse 11 the clever wicked man carefully conceals his evil plans. His problem is he has to have accomplices, and sooner or later one of them will talk too much and let the word out. 

“Lord, keep me innocent so I need not depend on foolish conspirators. AMEN.”