Proverbs 10:10

New English Translation

¹⁰The one who winks^[a] his^[b] eye causes^[c] trouble,
and the one who speaks foolishness^[d] will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:10 tn The participle (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.
Proverbs 10:10 tn Heb “the eye.”
Proverbs 10:10 tn Heb “gives.”
Proverbs 10:10 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, ʾevil) refers to someone who despises knowledge and discernment.

New English Translation (NET)