Proverbes 12:18

18 Tel, qui parle légèrement, blesse comme un glaive; Mais la langue des sages apporte la guérison.

Proverbes 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword
Whose words are like sharp swords, cutting, wounding, dividing, killing; see ( Psalms 57:4 ) ( 59:7 ) ( 64:3 ) ; such are the words of false witnesses, who by their false testimonies and perjuries are as guilty of the murder of men as cutthroats; such are the words of slanderers, backbiters, and talebearers, who grieve the innocent, wound their characters, destroy their good name and credit, and separate chief friends; and such are the words of antichrist, who looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon, ( Revelation 13:11 ) ; but the tongue of the wise [is] health;
or "healing" F5; by giving a faithful testimony which sets matters right; by clearing and defending the character of those who are falsely accused and wrongfully charged; by making up differences, and reconciling persons at variance through the detracting and lying insinuations of others; and by speaking comfortable, cheerful, and refreshing words to the injured and abused; especially the tongue of a wise minister of the Gospel is health, or healing, to wounded souls, to whom he ministers the Gospel of the grace of God, which directs to Christ for healing, peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (aprm) "medicinae", Junius & Tremellius; "medicina", Piscator, Cocceius; "sanatio", Michaelis; "sanatrix", Schultens.

Proverbes 12:18 In-Context

16 L'insensé laisse voir à l'instant sa colère, Mais celui qui cache un outrage est un homme prudent.
17 Celui qui dit la vérité proclame la justice, Et le faux témoin la tromperie.
18 Tel, qui parle légèrement, blesse comme un glaive; Mais la langue des sages apporte la guérison.
19 La lèvre véridique est affermie pour toujours, Mais la langue fausse ne subsiste qu'un instant.
20 La tromperie est dans le coeur de ceux qui méditent le mal, Mais la joie est pour ceux qui conseillent la paix.
The Louis Segond 1910 is in the public domain.