Proverbs 10:10

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁰Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
but one who rebukes boldly makes peace.^[a]^(A)

Proverbs 10:10

New English Translation

¹⁰The one who winks^[a] his^[b] eye causes^[c] trouble,
and the one who speaks foolishness^[d] will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:10 tn The participle (קָרַץ, qarats) describes a person who habitually “winks” his eye maliciously as a secretive sign to those conspiring evil (Prov 6:13). This is a comparison rather than a contrast. Devious gestures are grievous, but not as ruinous as foolish talk. Both are to be avoided.
Proverbs 10:10 tn Heb “the eye.”
Proverbs 10:10 tn Heb “gives.”
Proverbs 10:10 tn Heb “the fool of lips”; cf. NASB “a babbling fool.” The phrase is a genitive of specification: “a fool in respect to lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause (= lips) for effect (= speech). The word for fool (אֶוִיל, ʾevil) refers to someone who despises knowledge and discernment.

²³Doing wrong is like sport to a fool,
but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.^(A)

²³Carrying out a wicked scheme^[a] is enjoyable^[b] to a fool,
and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.^[c]

Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “doing a plan.” The noun זִמָּה (zimmah, “plan”) is often used pejoratively of a scheme to do wickedness. It is used elsewhere for planning lewdness, murder, incest, adultery, idolatry, and licentiousness. Any planned gross impropriety gives the fool pleasure. The verb עָשָׂה (ʿasah, “to do”) here means “to carry out (a plan)” (BDB 794 s.v.).
Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “like sport” (so NASB, NRSV). The noun שְׂחוֹק (s^ekhoq, “sport”) is used elsewhere to refer to what is exhilarating and pleasurable (BDB 966 s.v.). As W. G. Plaut says, it is like child’s play (Proverbs, 132). For the fool evil brings such enjoyment; for the discerning wisdom does.
Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “a man of discernment.”

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

New English Translation (NET)