How is a winking eye trouble (Proverbs 10:10)?

Wisdom is manifested in lowly obedience (vv. 8, 9). "The wise in heart receives commandments; but the foolish of lips (the marked contrast) shall fall." Man's true elevation is in looking up to Him who deigns to guide the needy by His counsel. The foolish of lips proves that he neither knows whence wisdom comes, nor distrusts his own emptiness; and therefore shall he fall. But wisdom of heart does not stop at hearing, but receives to obey, and is blessed in his doing; and so we are told here, "he that walks in integrity walks securely; but he that perverts his ways shall be known." He may be sly, and hope to lie concealed; but He who sees all discloses the evildoer even in the dark day or night.

Very pregnant is verse 10. "He that winks with the eye causes grief." He may be ever so on his guard, he may not go beyond a sign of his evil eyes; but he "causes grief," and without defining it farther. It may be grief to himself as well as to others. As before, here it is added that the foolish of lips shall fall. He is not a crafty dissembler, but falls through his outspoken folly.

"He who winks with the eye causes trouble." People usually wink when they want to deceive, and of course this causes trouble. "But a prating fool will fall." This was written in verse 8, but in verse 10 it is connected with one who winks with the eye, showing that the prating fool is guilty of worse evil than one who winks. He who winks may more easily get away with his deception, but one who is a prating fool so manifests his folly by coarse words that he will fall in the estimation of practically everyone.

This is what men do between each other now-a-days, to reach some end they have in view. I dare say they may not perhaps think so: but the largest portion of the sorrows between men, or even between brethren, are caused by some hint, behind backs; or some whispered story, to which the heart of others is ready to lend an ear; which causes distrust to spring up between souls. Distrust engendered, dislike follows, but more especially in the one who has wronged the other. It is exceedingly hard to trust a heart you have wronged. “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it”; and “He that repeateth a matter, separateth very friends”; and “He that did his neighbor wrong, thrust him away,” etc. These passages (kindred in their character) are but the workings of this principle of evil. Hence the true saying, “The injured may forget; the injurer, never!”

There are some, sad to say, who are given up to wickedness, therefore are worthless. Not one redeeming feature is to be found in such (v. 12). They walk, but with a perverse mouth, their words twisted and corrupt. Winking with the eyes indicates the intention of deceiving (v. 13), and shuffling his feet reveals a walk that is impelled by mere selfish greed. His fingers are used to point accusingly at others while entertaining perversity in his own heart.

"A man of Belial, a wicked person, walks with a perverse mouth. He winks with his eyes; he speaks with his feet; he teaches with his fingers. Deceits [are] in his heart; he devises mischief at all times; he sends out discords. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly, in a moment shall he be broken, and without remedy. Six [things] Jehovah hates, yea, seven [are] an abomination of his soul; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness breathing out lies, and he that sends out discords among brethren." vv. 12-19.

The first term reveals the evil source, the second characterizes him humanly and in general, whatever his position. The tongue, given to praise God and to help our fellows, too surely indicates what he is; he walks with a froward and perverse mouth. It is not merely that he feels no affection, but he has only things awry to say. He likes to differ and to insinuate what is painful. Nor is there candour even in his perverse expression, "he winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers." He plies his pertinacious and evil activity with the utmost skill. Not only practicing ill, but having pleasure in those that do it, he in an underhand way loves to make others his instruments; a wink of his eyes suffices for one; a shuffle with his feet influences another and even his restless fingers give a signal to the third. The evil has a root deeper than his perverse mouth; "deceits are in his heart." Other bad men may seek money, pleasure, ambition. His heart has it in frowardness; and to gratify this perverse spirit is his business and life; "he devises mischief at all times." His pleasure is to set people by the ears; "he sends out, or sows, discords." He that bows to the written Word cannot doubt what will be the issue of a course so ungodly and malicious; but even now how often a blow falls on evil in this world! "Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; in a moment shall he be broken, and without remedy." The day of the Lord will display this judicial dealing publicly, and far and wide; but from time to time there may be a witness that God is not mocked.

A violent man (v. 29), one who does not hesitate to use violence against others, will not be content to be alone in his cruel activity, but will entice others to join him in his evil actions. How vital it is that one should beware of such characters! Does he wink with his eye? Then we may be sure that deception is involved (v. 30). Pursing his lips may be a sign also to warn us to avoid him: he is not to be trusted.

The picture in verse 30 describes one of those that shut the eyes in their evil work; but it is to devise froward things, and one biting his lips, that he may bring evil to pass.