1. What does the Lord call one who hides hatred with lies and those who uttereth a slander?
“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool” (Proverbs 10:18).
* Hiding hatred with lying lips (I Samuel 18:20-29, Proverbs 24:1-2, Proverbs 26:24-26, and Jeremiah 9:3-8).
* Slandering does not go unpunished (Psalms 101:5 and Romans 3:8).
2. Is it easier to sin when one speaks too much?
Yes: “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).
* A fool is full of words (Ecclesiastes 10:14) rather than realizing it’s best to just shut up (Proverbs 17:27-28).
* Everything we say will be brought into judgment (Proverbs 13:3 and Matthew 12:34-37).
* We should always think carefully about what we say (Proverbs 15:28; cf. I Peter 4:11).
3. Is the tongue of the just considered valuable by God?
Yes: “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth” (Proverbs 10:20).
* Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 15:4, and Proverbs 25:11-12.
4. Do righteous lips help others?
Yes: “The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom” (Proverbs 10:21).
* Job 4:3-4, Jeremiah 3:15, and Matthew 4:4.
5. Do the blessings of the Lord come with sorrow?
No: “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).
* With the blessings of the Lord we find times to rejoice (Deuteronomy 12:7).
6. Do fools take doing mischievous things seriously?
No: “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom” (Proverbs 10:23).
* Proverbs 14:9, Proverbs 15:21, Ecclesiastes 5:1, and Hosea 7:1-2.
7. How does Job 3:25 fit into our context?
Job 3:25 says: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
Now, from our context we see this: “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted” (Proverbs 10:24).
8. Do the wicked have an everlasting foundation?
No, but the righteous do: “As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation” (Proverbs 10:25).
* The wicked are cut off (Psalms 37:9-10). They are destroyed as a whirlwind (Proverbs 1:24-28).
* The righteous do have an everlasting foundation (II Timothy 2:19).
9. Is it wise to send a sluggard [lazy person] to do a task?
No: “As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him” (Proverbs 10:26).
* Send a faithful messenger (Proverbs 25:13).
10. What does the fear of the Lord prolong?
“The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27).
* Proverbs 19:23
11. Will the wicked that work iniquity escape destruction?
No: “(28) The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. (29) The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity” (Proverbs 10:28-29).
* Psalms 1:6, Proverbs 14:32, Proverbs 21:15, and Romans 6:23.
12. How do we know that Proverbs 10:30 is not teaching an eternal earth doctrine?
* When Christ returns the earth will be destroyed (Matthew 24:35-36, II Peter 3:10-14, and I John 2:17).
* Under the Old Testament their inheritance was upon this earth (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 1:21, Joshua 1:6, and Ezekiel 20:42).
13. What was to be done to the froward [perverse] tongue?
“The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out” (Proverbs 10:31).
* Mouths that speak words that are perverse have to be silenced (Psalms 31:18 and Titus 1:10-11).
* On the other hand, wisdom comes out of the mouth of the just (Psalms 37:30).
14. Do righteous individuals know what is acceptable?
Yes: “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh forwardness” (Proverbs 10:32).
* We have to know what is acceptable in our speech (Ecclesiastes 12:10 and Titus 2:7-8).
* We have to control our tongues (Psalms 34:13, Proverbs 4:24, James 1:26, and I Peter 3:8-11).