If thou faint in the day of adversity, they strength is small.
– Proverbs 24:10
[V]erses 10-12 form the next saying, which deals with perseverance in the face of difficulty. The word for faint means to slacken and the word for adversity means to tighten. There may be a play on the words there. Adversities are all sorts of distresses and troubles. Wisdom knows adversities test and reveal character, as the second phrase shows the faint has small strength. Wisdom requires us to quit the way and counsels of foolishness and to act wisely in the time of trouble (Proverbs 31:8-9).