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Proverbs 10 · a question people ask

"The fear of the LORD prolongs days" (10:27). Is that a promise that everyone who fears the LORD will live long?

In the text

Here is what the verse says: "The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened" (10:27) (tap fear). In Hebrew prolongs is yasaf, the verb of 10:22's "he adds no trouble to it" (tap adds): the fear of the LORD adds days. Chapter 3 has the same verb: "for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace" (Proverbs 3:2). The verse doesn't say whether every person who fears the LORD lives long, or how long. The notes on Proverbs 4 ask the same question of "The years of your life will be many" (Proverbs 4:10), and set 10:4 beside 13:23 there. The introduction to Proverbs says that Christians differ over how far sayings like these are promises, and chapter 22 will set out the main readings of one of them (Proverbs 22:6). These notes don't choose, and they don't apply 10:27 to anyone's life or loss.

The verses

“The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.”
Proverbs 10:22 · World English Bible
“The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”
Proverbs 10:27 · World English Bible
“for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.”
Proverbs 3:2 · World English Bible
“Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.”
Proverbs 4:10 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10: Love covers all wrongs

The hatred of 10:12 comes back in 10:18, "He who hides hatred has lying lips", and in Hebrew hides is 10:12's covers: the chapter has a covering that loves and a covering that lies. And in one chapter both "the hand of the diligent" (10:4) and "The LORD’s blessing" (10:22) bring wealth, with one Hebrew word.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions