Proverbs 10:2
Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just contrast ill-gotten gains with good deeds; it suggests that "righteousness" here specifically points to acts of generosity and kindness, which can literally save a person's life by earning them favor and help, and spiritually protects them from death. It’s a reminder that living righteously isn’t just about avoiding wrong, but actively doing good.
This proverb stands at the beginning of a long section where Solomon contrasts the ways of the wise and the foolish. It's a foundational statement setting up the core theme: the starkly different outcomes between living a life aligned with God's wisdom versus a life driven by wickedness. The verses immediately following will further illustrate this fundamental divide with specific examples of how such choices play out daily.
Ever seen someone seemingly 'win' big through dishonest means? This verse cuts through that illusion with stark clarity.
The Bible is unflinching: wealth acquired through wickedness is fundamentally unstable and ultimately worthless.
Fleeting Fortune
These 'treasures' might look impressive, like houses filled with spoils (Proverbs 1:13), but they lack true value. They can't buy peace, security, or lasting satisfaction. In fact, they often bring ruin, attracting envy, leading to greed, and ultimately exposing the owner to greater judgment.
No Real Profit
The core idea is that these riches offer no genuine, lasting benefit. They can't redeem a person from their sins, nor can they shield them from the consequences of their actions, whether temporal or eternal. They are a mirage – promising life but delivering only emptiness.
What does it truly mean to be 'righteous' in God's eyes? It's far more than just following rules; it's about life itself.
The verse contrasts the worthlessness of wicked wealth with the life-giving power of righteousness. This 'righteousness' isn't just about being fair or morally good; it's about living in right relationship with God and others.
A Wider Meaning
In the ancient Hebrew context, righteousness often encompasses generosity, justice, truthfulness, and faithfulness – essentially 'rendering to all their due,' whether to God or neighbor. It's a holistic way of living that reflects God's own character.
Life from Death
This righteousness delivers. It can mean protection from premature, temporal death due to the favor it garners and the godly life it promotes. More profoundly, it speaks to a deliverance from the spiritual and eternal death that sin brings. It signifies a life that is truly alive in God's sight.
Understand the original words
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
Biblical righteousness refers to a state of being right with God, demonstrated through moral integrity, obedience to His law, and acting justly toward others.
This passage warns against storing up treasures on earth, which aligns with Proverbs' teaching that treasures gained through wickedness are ultimately profitless.
Luke 16:9Jesus speaks of making 'friends by means of unrighteous wealth,' echoing the idea that wealth acquired unjustly has no lasting value and can even lead to ruin.
Proverbs 11:4This verse directly states that 'riches do not profit in the day of wrath,' reinforcing the ephemeral and ultimately useless nature of ill-gotten gains in the face of divine judgment.
Psalm 112:1-3This psalm celebrates the blessedness of the man who fears the Lord and walks in His ways, highlighting that his 'wealth and riches' will be in his house, contrasting sharply with the 'treasures of wickedness.'
Daniel 4:27Daniel advises King Nebuchadnezzar to 'break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed,' suggesting that acts of righteousness and mercy can lead to prolonged prosperity, even averting disaster.
bensonProverbs 10:2: "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death."
Proverbs 10:2 . Treasures of wickedness — Such as are got by any sort of unjust or wicked practices; or worldly riches in general, termed by our Lord, the mammon of unrighteousness, Luke 16:9 , because they are often used in an unrighteous manner, and made instruments of unrighteousness, and for other reasons there explained; profit nothing — Do the possessor no good at the time here intended, but,…
clarkeProverbs 10:2: "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death."
Treasures of wickedness - Property gained by wicked means. Delivered from death - Treasures gained by robbery often bring their possessors to an untimely death; but those gained by righteous dealing bring with them no such consequences.
The verse doesn't just contrast ill-gotten gains with good deeds; it suggests that "righteousness" here specifically points to acts of generosity and kindness, which can literally save a person's life by earning them favor and help, and spiritually protects them from death. It’s a reminder that living righteously isn’t just about avoiding wrong, but actively doing good.
This proverb stands at the beginning of a long section where Solomon contrasts the ways of the wise and the foolish. It's a foundational statement setting up the core theme: the starkly different outcomes between living a life aligned with God's wisdom versus a life driven by wickedness. The verses immediately following will further illustrate this fundamental divide with specific examples of how such choices play out daily.
This proverb stands at the beginning of a long section where Solomon contrasts the ways of the wise and the foolish. It's a foundational statement setting up the core theme: the starkly different outcomes between living a life aligned with God's wisdom versus a life driven by wickedness. The verses immediately following will further illustrate this fundamental divide with specific examples of how such choices play out daily.
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"Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death." — The verse doesn't just contrast ill-gotten gains with good deeds; it suggests that "righteousness" here specifically points to acts of generosity and kindness, which can literally save a person's lif…
