Proverbs 10:10

The one who winks ¹  his ²  eye causes ³  trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness ⁴  will come to ruin.

He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined.

People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.

An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead, but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.

He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace.

Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace.

He who winks with the eye causes trouble, But a prating fool will fall.

The one who winks ¹  his ²  eye causes ³  trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness ⁴  will come to ruin.

¹ tn The term (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.

² tn Heb “the eye.”

³ tn Heb “gives.”

⁴ 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, ’evil) refers to someone who despises knowledge and discernment.