Proverbs 10:31

31 The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish.

Proverbs 10:31 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 10:31

The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom
As the earth brings forth its increase, and a tree brings forth its fruit; hence speech is called the fruit of the lips; wisdom is good fruit; a good man is comparable to the fruitful earth, and to a good tree; whose mouth brings forth wise things in abundance, which are very pleasant and profitable; not worldly wisdom, much less devilish; not merely natural wisdom, but spiritual and evangelical; see ( Psalms 37:30 ) ; but the froward tongue shall be cut out;
or "cut down" F26; as an unprofitable tree, which brings forth nothing but perverse things; things contrary to God and good men, to truth and right reason, to the light of nature, the law of God, and Gospel of Christ. Such "a tongue of perversities" F1, as it may be rendered, that brings forth blasphemies against God, his tabernacle and his saints, as the tongue of antichrist does, deserves to be cut out, as the tongue of a blasphemer.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 (trkt) "succidetur", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus.
F1 (twkpht Nwvl) "lingua perversitatum", Montanus, Junius & Tremeilius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 10:31 In-Context

29 The fear of the Lord is a strong hold of the saints: but ruin to them that work wickedness.
30 The righteous shall never fail: but the ungodly shall not dwell in the earth.
31 The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish.
32 The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.