Proverbs chapter 10

vs 11

What you talk about, and what you use your talk for, is important. For the righteous person, talking about God, godly things and wisdom is all life-affirming and assisting. The words of the wicked can either support, cause or intend violence.

vs 12

A simple but potent truth. When you hate someone you will make trouble, look for reasons to argue. But when you love someone, you will gloss over things, and seek to make bad things good, or at least correct wrong things. While this parable is just stating that as a fact, what it is also doing is suggesting that the love or the hate come first - change those, and the situation changes.

vs 13

Obviously you'll find wisdom with the wise. What I wonder about is the second part. Is the rod designed for senseless, or is it just their lot to be hit with it? I don't know that you hit someone with a rod just because they are senseless. I think you hit them because of the resulting actions.

vs 14

Two parts. Keeping and storing knowledge for future use is wise. Using your mouth stupidly can lead to destructive consequences.

vs 15

It's true. Wealth offers a hell of a lot of protection and advantages that poverty denies. Health and education are obvious examples.

vs 16

In the proverbial sense, we have seen that wisdom generally leads to a lengthening of life, while wickedness seems to speed up death. It's a lot easier to say that sin leads to death when you have death penalties.

vs 17

Simply by following discipline, you are showing others a wise thing to do, and you are therefore being a good example. On the other hand, rebellion not only puts you in the wrong, but leads others astray with you.

vs 18

That one sets out foolish action quite simply.

vs 19

This one I think we all need to listen to sometimes. You can't talk sin away.

vs 20

Ouch.

vs 21

This is repetitive, but shows just how much benefit your talk can do for others. The impact of our own lives on other people is a big focus so far. The fool, at least in this proverb, just gets himself killed. But the impact of foolishness on others is seen in some of the other proverbs.