2Righteousness, its value. The sage asserts that “righteousness” (ṣedāqâ) has far greater value than ill-gotten wealth. This word takes on the meaning of honesty in this contrast. Wealth in general can only be enjoyed for a while, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger (māwet, “death”).[1]
10:2 / Here, as in many other sayings, one sees the law of retribution at work. Wrongdoing cannot profit and virtue is to be rewarded. Long life (cf. the patriarchs) was a divine blessing reserved for the virtuous. The justice of God, as Israel measured it, demanded a distinction in the treatment of good and evil; otherwise the problem of theodicy arose (cf. Job). Righteousness delivers from death, namely, from an early or unpleasant death that is supposedly the fate of wrongdoers. Such a fate deprives them of the riches they strove for. At a later period, righteousness came to be understood particularly as almsgiving (cf. Tob. 4:7–11) and death was also seen as no obstacle to immortality (Wis. 1:15).[2]
10:2 Wealth obtained illegally doesn’t last; it has a way of disappearing. And in the hour of death, it cannot win a moment’s reprieve. Righteousness, on the other hand, delivers from death in at least two ways. It preserves a man from the perils of a sinful life, and, as the outward evidence of the new birth, it shows that he has eternal life.[3]
10:2Treasures: This verse is a warning against presumption on wealth apart from personal righteousness. The wicked may be wealthy but that wealth will not allow them to buy their way past death. In this type of saying, death is something to fear—if one does not know God. That righteousness delivers from death presages some hope of life beyond death.[4]
10:2. To say that treasures are of no value seems like a startling, almost contradictory statement until one remembers that the treasures are ill-gotten (cf. 1:19; 28:16; Micah 6:10), gained unjustly (cf. Prov. 16:8) by theft or deceit. An example of this is addressed in 1:11–14, 18–19. Such treasures are no good because they dwindle away (13:11; 21:6) and do not forestall death (11:4). Of course money acquired dishonestly may provide some pleasure and be valuable for a while but in the long run it does not satisfy.[5]
10:2 — Treasures of wickedness profit nothing .…
The Bible never tries to hide the fact that the wicked can indeed amass “treasures” through their wicked deeds. But it also insists that those ill-gotten treasures will benefit them not at all in the end.[6]
[1] Ross, A. P. (2008). Proverbs. In T. Longman III, Garland David E. (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Proverbs–Isaiah (Revised Edition) (Vol. 6, p. 111). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[2] Murphy, R. E., & Carm, O. (2012). Proverbs. In W. W. Gasque, R. L. Hubbard Jr., & R. K. Johnston (Eds.), Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (p. 48). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 814). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[4] Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 753). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
[5] Buzzell, S. S. (1985). Proverbs. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 925). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Stanley, C. F. (2005). The Charles F. Stanley life principles Bible: New King James Version (Pr 10:2). Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles.
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