Proverbs 10 – Summary

What I learned from Proverbs 10

In Proverbs 10, Solomon begins to give counsel for specific situations. Now that we have come to the conclusion of this chapter, I circled back around and reread each post. Following is a brief topical summary of each verse in Proverbs 10.

1. Proverbs 10:32: To know what is acceptable, especially related to speech.
2. Proverbs 10:31: To bring justice.
3. Proverbs 10:30: To stand firm, knowing life is eternal.
4. Proverbs 10:29: The Lord’s way is strength, and every good decision increases our ability to continue to choose good.
5. Proverbs 10:28: The Righteous place their hope in gladness; the inalienable right of God’s people to hope in gladness and pursue it.
6. Proverbs 10:27: The key to long life is fear of the Lord.
7. Proverbs 10:26: The slothful person is annoying to those around him.
8. Proverbs 10:25: Righteousness is an everlasting foundation.
9. Proverbs 10:24: The desire of the righteous shall be granted; they put forth their desire and wait patiently.
10. Proverbs 10:23: Fools occupy their time with mischief.
11. Proverbs 10:22: The Lord’s blessing comes without any sorrow.
12. Proverbs 10:21: The lips of the righteous teach many.
13. Proverbs 10:20: The tongue of the just is treasure to the hearers.
14. Proverbs 10:19: Using too many words invites sin.
15. Proverbs 10:18: Fools are made of hateful words and slander.
16. Proverbs 10:17: The way of life is to keep good instruction.
17. Proverbs 10:16: The labor of the righteous cultivates a good life.
18. Proverbs 10:15: The rich rely on their wealth and the poor are destroyed by their poverty.
19. Proverbs 10:14: Wise men keep their wisdom close to their chest, but the fool is always chattering.
20. Proverbs 10:13: Those who have understanding speak wisdom.
21. Proverbs 10:12: Love covers all sins; we choose how we will react to mistreatment.
22. Proverbs 10:11: Words matter! “Joab kissed and killed. Judas kissed and betrayed.”
23. Proverbs 10:10: Avoid conspiring and endless foolish chatter. “The dog that bites is not always the dog that barks”. (692)
24. Proverbs 10:9: Walk confidently in righteous and choose the right path.
25. Proverbs 10:8: The wise hear God’s words and receive them.
26. Proverbs 10:7: The just leave behind a good name, which is recalled with good memories.
27. Proverbs 10:6: We all receive are just desserts.
28. Proverbs 10:5: Timing, diligence, and learning – in season, at the right time.
29. Proverbs 10:4: A diligent hand brings wealth. Choose what you do in your leisure time wisely.
30. Proverbs 10:3: The Lord looks out for the righteous. The verse specifically focused on God as the subject.
31. Proverbs 10:2: The treasure of the wicked is material, but the treasure of the righteous is eternal life.
32. Proverbs 10:1: Concerning the relationship between parents and children.

Verses I specifically recommend for my children to ponder:

1. 10:29,
2. 10:26,
3. 10:17,
4. 10:7,
5. 10:5,
6. 10:4,
7. 10:3,
8. 10:2,
9. 10:1

One recurring theme in Proverbs 10 was concerning speech. As Matthew Henry notes in his Commentary, “Many of the proverbs in this chapter relate to the good government of the tongue, without which men’s religion is vain” (690). This topic came up in the following verses:

1. 10:6,
2. 10:8
3. 10:10
4. 10:11
5. 10:13
6. 10:14
7. 10:20
8. 10:21
9. 10:31
10. 10:32

Because Solomon refers back to it so often, it’s good to think about why he was so intent on his followers controlling their words. The main thread in his verses about the mouth was focusing on the source of our words, our hearts. We need to be filling our hearts with wisdom, which should result in wisdom pouring out of us. Jesus refers to this same topic in Matthew 12:34.

Hopefully, you found the daily reflections on Proverbs 10 helpful. For me, they were convicting and fruitful. What are your thoughts? Ready for the next chapter? See you soon for Proverbs 11.

Works Cited

Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 10.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

© 2025 Angela Hormberg