Proverbs 10:2
Ill-gotten gain ultimately fails, but righteousness preserves life.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.
Ill-gotten gain ultimately fails, but righteousness preserves life.
To contrast the temporary value of dishonest gain with the life-preserving power of righteousness.
This proverb continues the series of antithetical sayings introduced in Proverbs 10:1, now shifting from family relationships to issues of wealth and morality. The structure highlights a contrast between two sources of security: unjust gain and righteous living. Within the broader collection, this verse reinforces a recurring theme that external prosperity is not the ultimate measure of success. The emphasis is on the moral and spiritual dimension of life, where righteousness aligns with God’s order and produces lasting outcomes. This proverb contributes to the cumulative teaching that wisdom governs all aspects of life, including economics and ethics.
Proverbs 10:2 reflects an agrarian and economic context where wealth could be gained either through honest labor or unjust practices. The wisdom tradition consistently warned against dishonest gain and emphasized righteousness as the true path to life and stability.
The Righteous and the Wicked: Wisdom in Speech, Work, Wealth, and Life
The righteous and the wicked are revealed in ordinary life, especially in speech, work, wealth, discipline, and desire, and the LORD's moral order leads the righteous toward life while folly moves the wicked toward ruin.