Prov 10.6
⁶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Prov 27.17

As was mentioned as we began this look at Proverbs, while the arrangement of the Proverbs of Solomon (Prov 10.1) seems lacking, in actuality there is much more structure when seen with the observant eye. Prov 10.6 is a classic example of such structure.

Prior proverbs, which dealt with wise behavior (Prov 10.2-3, value of righteousness; Prov 10.4-5, rewards of wisdom), are now transitioned thematically to instruction in blessing and cursing, the fruit being rewards.

Here, the focus is on what lies ahead for those who practice wise behavior, rewards. Our first word is “blessings” and our last word is “violence.” Both of these words apply to one’s self and to others. Two key words interior are both related to character, “righteous” and “wicked.” A righteous person is humble to God’s ways. A wicked person is prideful to God’s ways. 

righteous – righteous is always conformity to a standard, both moral and ethical, e.g., judges and weights are areas where this term would apply. Cf. Mal 3.18 below. “Righteous” comes in relationship to others where there are claims, standards, to be met. (One of the great tragedies of modern culture, that of insane individualism, is a lack of righteousness because everything is related to self.) Biblical righteousness and innocence are closely related and always judged by God’s standard. 

blessings – This directly tied to that which comes from God, a loving and faithful God! Life is at the core of blessing, and life comes from God! Those wrongly related to God, not “righteous,” cannot bless (Mal 2.2) or be blessed (Deut 28).

wicked – That which is contrary to God’s standard, i.e., those not in relationship with God.

violence – This term is used almost exclusively of sinful violence! It is part of the culture of the flood, Gen 6.11 (parallels corrupt), Gen 6.13 (parallels destroyed). In Ex 23.1, a malicious witness.

References to Consider:

Prov 10.28
²⁸ The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

Prov 10.22
²² It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.

Prov 28.20
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

Mal 3.18
¹⁸ So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Micah 6.8
⁹ The voice of the Lord will call to the city— And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name: “Hear, O tribe. Who has appointed its time?

Ps 5.4
⁴ For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You.

Deut 30.19
¹⁹ “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

Prov 10.24
²⁴ What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

Gen 24.27
²⁷ He said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”

Ps 89.14-15
¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.
¹⁵ How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.

Sharpening for my life today:

Righteousness has a longer view of life! Righteousness is humble to God’s ways, trusts God to take care of real value. A violent person takes control to self.

The ultimate blessing, life itself, is founded on the moral order of God. It is God who establishes justice, declares what is unjust (the world is not relative!), and bestows the blessing and the cursing!

Here is classic farming, “like” produces “like.” What you sow, you reap!