Proverbs 10:26-32

10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes, ¹ 

so is the sluggard to those ²  who send him.

10:27 Fearing the Lord ³  prolongs life, ⁴ 

but the life span ⁵  of the wicked will be shortened. ⁶ 

10:28 The hope ⁷  of the righteous is joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled. ⁸ 

10:29 The way of the Lord ⁹  is like ¹⁰  a stronghold for the upright, ¹¹ 

but it is destruction ¹²  to evildoers. ¹³ 

10:30 The righteous will never be moved,

but the wicked will not inhabit the land. ¹⁴ 

10:31 The speech ¹⁵  of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, ¹⁶ 

but the one who speaks perversion ¹⁷  will be destroyed. ¹⁸ 

10:32 The lips of the righteous know ¹⁹  what is pleasing, ²⁰ 

but the speech ²¹  of the wicked is perverse.

[10:26]  ¹ sn Two similes are used to portray the aggravation in sending a lazy person to accomplish a task. Vinegar to the teeth is an unpleasant, irritating experience; and smoke to the eyes is an unpleasant experience that hinders progress.

[10:26]  ² tn The participle is plural, and so probably should be taken in a distributive sense: “to each one who sends him.”

[10:27]  ³ tn Heb “the fear of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yÿhvah, “the Lord”) functions as an objective genitive.

[10:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “days” (so KJV, ASV).

[10:27]  ⁵ tn Heb “years.” The term “years” functions as a synecdoche of part (= years) for the whole (= lifespan).

[10:27]  ⁶ sn This general saying has to be qualified with the problem of the righteous suffering and dying young, a problem that perplexed the sages of the entire ancient world. But this is the general principle: The righteous live longer because their life is the natural one and because God blesses them.

[10:28]  ⁷ sn This proverb contrasts the hopes of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will see their hopes fulfilled. The saying is concerned with God’s justice. The words תּוֹחֶלֶת (tokhelet, from יָחַל, yakhal) and תִּקְוַת (tiqvat, from קָוָה, qavah) are synonyms, both emphasizing eager expectations, longings, waiting in hope.

[10:28]  ⁸ tn Heb “will perish”; NAB “comes to nought.”

[10:29]  ⁹ sn The “way of the Lord” is an idiom for God’s providential administration of life; it is what the Lord does (“way” being a hypocatastasis).

[10:29]  ¹⁰ tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[10:29]  ¹¹ tn Heb “for the one with integrity” (לַתֹּם, latom).

[10:29]  ¹² tn Or “ruin” (so NIV).

[10:29]  ¹³ tn Heb “those who practice iniquity.”

[10:30]  ¹⁴ sn This proverb concerns the enjoyment of covenant blessings – dwelling in the land of Israel. It is promised to the righteous for an eternal inheritance, and so the wicked cannot expect to settle there – they will be exiled.

[10:31]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “the mouth.” The term פֶּה (peh, “mouth”) functions as a metonymy of cause for speech.

[10:31]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “bears wisdom.” The verb נוּב (nuv) means “to bear fruit.” It is used figuratively of the righteous; they produce wisdom and righteousness. The term חָכְמָה (khokhmah, “wisdom”) represents the “fruit” that the righteous bear: “they bear the fruit of wisdom” (BDB 626 s.v.).

[10:31]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “the tongue of perversions.” The noun תַּהְפֻּכוֹת (tahpukhot, “perversions”) functions as a genitive of content; it refers to what the tongue says – perverse things. The plural form depicts a plural of character. The term לָשׁוֹן (lashon, “tongue”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= tongue) for the whole person (= the speaker). The tongue is emphasized because this person is characterized by perverse speech. The term תַּהְפֻּכוֹת (“perversions”) refers to those who turn things upside down, overthrow, or pervert what is right.

[10:31]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “will be cut off” (so NAB, NRSV, NLT); cf. KJV, NASB, NIV “cut out.” Their tongue will be cut off, a hyperbole meaning to bring to an end the evil that they speak.

[10:32]  ¹⁹ sn The verb “know” applied to “lips” is unusual. “Lips” is a metonymy for what the righteous say; and their words “know” (a personification) what is pleasing, i.e., they are acquainted with.

[10:32]  ²⁰ sn The righteous say what is pleasing, acceptable, or delightful; but the wicked say perverse and destructive things.

[10:32]  ²¹ tn Heb “lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause for what is said.