I’d take a chance with that hoss, but there ain’t any hospital for fools handy.”
–Max Brand (The Untamed)
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
–Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
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We see two people here in Proverbs 10:10–the winker and the chatterer. I want us to look at several versions for it will help us to see what is being said in this verse.
“He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.” (NKJV)
“Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.” (ESV)
“He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.” (NIV)
“People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.” (NLT)
Let me say this regarding the NLT. The second part seems to be a poor translation for the actual Hebrew translation reads, “babbling fools fall flat on their faces.”
Here we see a contrast of two wicked people. One is the winker, the other is the prater or chatterer. Both of these are evil in their intent, and as Bob Beasley points out, “At the foundation of a conspiracy to do evil is our enmity with God.” Those with these characteristics are sly or clowns.
The person who winks with the eye has evil intent. They are trying to convey one thought while in their heart they are conniving to do evil. When a person says something then winks it means they do not mean what they say; it is in jest. They insinuate one thing but really mean another. Oh, how much we need people of integrity. People who are honest and say what they mean and mean what they say. The one who winks loses all credibility. This person causes malicious grief to others, and they do it with a smile. It was said of Philip II of Spain that his smile and his dagger were never far apart. Beware of the “winker.”
Have you ever been to a business meeting or heard a politician drone on and on. That is the prater or chatterer. I like the way the ESV puts it, “a babbling fool.” On and on they go, and say nothing. Think of the politicians we have. They never mean what they say, so not only are they a babbler but they wink, hoping to win you over with their lies. Ask them a question and they will bring out a spiel but say nothing. I will bring up the Congresswoman who was recently asked about U.S. involvement in Taiwan should they be attacked. She showed forth her babble and portrayed the fool to a tee.
The babbler is always talking, mouthing off, but saying little, if anything of value. This person is what J. Vernon McGee says, “Is wise in his own conceit.” Thinking they know it all they show that they know nothing. These are the ones in meetings that ask the same questions over and over never coming to an understanding of what has been said. These are the people who like nothing better than to hear themselves talk. You know the type. The babbler is the fool who despises wisdom, which we have already seen earlier in Proverbs. He will fall victim to his own folly; they will only hurt themselves.
We are not only to guard the truth, we are to speak it. Someone used the following acronym that might help us recognize a person of character or a prating fool. F.I.T. — Faith, Integrity, Trust. These are the ingredients of a God-honoring, God-fearing individual.
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
–Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
—————————
We see two people here in Proverbs 10:10–the winker and the chatterer. I want us to look at several versions for it will help us to see what is being said in this verse.
“He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.” (NKJV)
“Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.” (ESV)
“He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.” (NIV)
“People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.” (NLT)
Let me say this regarding the NLT. The second part seems to be a poor translation for the actual Hebrew translation reads, “babbling fools fall flat on their faces.”
Here we see a contrast of two wicked people. One is the winker, the other is the prater or chatterer. Both of these are evil in their intent, and as Bob Beasley points out, “At the foundation of a conspiracy to do evil is our enmity with God.” Those with these characteristics are sly or clowns.
The person who winks with the eye has evil intent. They are trying to convey one thought while in their heart they are conniving to do evil. When a person says something then winks it means they do not mean what they say; it is in jest. They insinuate one thing but really mean another. Oh, how much we need people of integrity. People who are honest and say what they mean and mean what they say. The one who winks loses all credibility. This person causes malicious grief to others, and they do it with a smile. It was said of Philip II of Spain that his smile and his dagger were never far apart. Beware of the “winker.”
Have you ever been to a business meeting or heard a politician drone on and on. That is the prater or chatterer. I like the way the ESV puts it, “a babbling fool.” On and on they go, and say nothing. Think of the politicians we have. They never mean what they say, so not only are they a babbler but they wink, hoping to win you over with their lies. Ask them a question and they will bring out a spiel but say nothing. I will bring up the Congresswoman who was recently asked about U.S. involvement in Taiwan should they be attacked. She showed forth her babble and portrayed the fool to a tee.
The babbler is always talking, mouthing off, but saying little, if anything of value. This person is what J. Vernon McGee says, “Is wise in his own conceit.” Thinking they know it all they show that they know nothing. These are the ones in meetings that ask the same questions over and over never coming to an understanding of what has been said. These are the people who like nothing better than to hear themselves talk. You know the type. The babbler is the fool who despises wisdom, which we have already seen earlier in Proverbs. He will fall victim to his own folly; they will only hurt themselves.
We are not only to guard the truth, we are to speak it. Someone used the following acronym that might help us recognize a person of character or a prating fool. F.I.T. — Faith, Integrity, Trust. These are the ingredients of a God-honoring, God-fearing individual.