Proverbs 18:7

7 A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.

Proverbs 18:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:7

A fool's mouth [is] his destruction
The cause of it; for his contentions, and quarrels, and evil speaking, lawsuits are commenced against him, which bring ruin upon himself and his family now; as well as for his idle and wicked words he will be condemned hereafter, ( Matthew 12:35 ) ; there is a world of iniquity in the mouth and tongue of a wicked man, which bring destruction upon himself and others, ( James 3:6 James 3:8 ) ; and his lips [are] the snare of his soul;
from speaking in his own defence, he says things which should not be said, and by which he is entangled yet more and more; he is caught by his own words and condemned by them; or his loquacity, in which he delights, is a snare unto him to say things which neither become him, nor are for his advantage, but the contrary; see ( Proverbs 12:13 ) .

Proverbs 18:7 In-Context

5 It is not good to be partial to a wicked man, or to deprive a righteous man of justice.
6 A fool's lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.
7 A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.
8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 He who is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.