Proverbs 10:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

NIV: The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

NASB: The fear of the Lord prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

CSB: The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

NLT: Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

KJV: The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

NKJV: The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

Once again Solomon contrasts the longevity of those who fear the Lord with those who lead a wicked life. While God-honoring people can be subject to accidents and persecution (James 4:14; John 16:33), those who ignore truth and godliness put themselves at much greater risk (Proverbs 8:34–36; 10:24–25). The tone of this proverb is much like that of a doctor who tells a patient to exercise so they "will live longer." That's not a guarantee, but it's a clear and obvious trend.

If they're pursuing wisdom, a God-fearing person avoids habits that threaten his health. In contrast, the foolish person is more readily addicted to food and substances that shorten his life. Alcoholism, overeating, illegal drug use, risky behaviors, and a lack of exercise inflict damage on a person's mind and body and can shorten his life considerably.

A person who fears the Lord recognizes the importance of presenting his body "as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" (Romans 12:1). Further, he refuses to let sin reign in his body (Romans 6:12). He does not present the members of his body to sin as instruments for unrighteousness. Instead, he presents his members to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:12–13). He recognizes that his body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and God has purchased his body with a price, the blood of Christ. Therefore, he glorifies God in his body (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

Unless God calls the dedicated believer to heaven when he is young, he is likely to live well into old age. Living in sin brings much greater risk of disease and death (Proverbs 9:13–18).

Proverbs 10:11–32 contrasts the righteous and the wicked, focusing on their different speech patterns, their different lifestyles, their different attitudes, and their different destinies. Verses 21 through 27 are especially focused on the different results which can be expected from pursuing godliness, versus pursuing sin.

This chapter begins 375 "proverbs," which are general-case lessons or observations. These wise remarks continue the discussion of wisdom and wickedness begun in chapters 1—9. Most of the verses in chapter 10 contain a sharp contrast, with the conjunction "but" separating the lines. Often, the subject changes from verse to verse. The contrasting subjects include sons, treasure, work ethic, reputation, relationships, success, and speech.

In Proverbs 7—9 Solomon contrasts wisdom and wickedness in the symbolic persons of Lady Wisdom and Woman Folly. He calls upon his sons, or students, to choose wisdom, and he points out the benefits of choosing wisdom and the disastrous results of choosing wickedness. Chapter 10 presents vivid contrasts between wisdom and wickedness in many of life's settings. These comparisons continue into chapter 11.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.