Why is it that the father gets the gladness and the mother the grief (10:1)? Kinda sounds like families where the father gets to do all the fun things with the children and the mother has to do the hard stuff! I am glad I am in a marriage where we both share the grief and the gladness!
Another very prominant theme in the proverbs is the fool. No surpise. Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom and since proverbs often make statements that are opposites or antithetical to one another as a method of teaching, it should be expected that the proverbs will deal with foolishness as much as wisdom.
The foolish child brings grief (10:1), a babbling fool will come to ruin (10:8, and 14), a fool utters slander (10:18), fools die for lack of sense (10:21), doing wrong is a sport for the fool (10:23). Grief, ruin, babbling, slander, lacking sense, and enjoying wrong-doing are all characteristics of the fool. Lord save me from foolishness!!
Righteousness and wickedness are two other opposites highlighted in the proverbs and chapter 11 has a treasure chest full of these sayings. The proverbs make it very clear that no matter what the appearance, the wicked will be punished and come to ruin. The righteous will be delivered and rewarded.
The righteous are delivered from death, keep their ways straight, are saved, delivered from trouble, make cities rejoice, are truly rewarded, live, escape, their desires end in good, they flourish, are repaid on earth. The wicked are destroyed, fall, taken captive, their hope perishes, they get into trouble, are celebrated when they are destroyed, earn no real gain, die, are an abomination to the Lord, punished, their expectations end in wrath, are life-takers, and also “repaid” on earth!
Reading these lists, who would ever choose to be a fool or wicked? Why would not every person choose wisdom and righteousness? The scriptures say we choose foolishness and wickedness because our hearts are rebellious against God and self-deluded. Apart from the Spirit of God revealing our wickedness and changing our hearts we would all be caught in our foolish and wicked ways. But thanks to the love and grace of God, he reveals our sin to us and gives us the opportunity to repent and be filled with his Spirit. With the Spirit of God working in us we can become wise and learn to walk in righteousness.