Proverbs 10:11

11 1The mouth of the righteous is 2a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked 3conceals violence.

Proverbs 10:11 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life
Like a fountain of living water, continually running and flowing with water, wholesome, reviving, and refreshing; so the righteous man's mouth, out of the abundance of his heart, overflows with good things, which minister grace to the hearers, and are for the use of edifying; things that are pleasant and profitable, grateful and acceptable, comforting, refreshing, and pleasing, and which tend to the good of the life that now is, and that which is to come; but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked;
so that nothing comes out of it but what is pernicious and hurtful; what savours of rapine and violence; nothing but lying and deceit, cursing and swearing, and such like filthy and corrupt communication; (See Gill on Proverbs 10:6). The Targum is, "the mouth of the ungodly covers injury"; which is meditated in the heart; so the Vulgate Latin version.

Proverbs 10:11 In-Context

9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 37:30
  • 2. Proverbs 13:14; Psalms 36:9
  • 3. [See ver. 6 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.