Proverbs 12:18

18 est qui promittit et quasi gladio pungitur conscientiae lingua autem sapientium sanitas est

Proverbs 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.

Proverbs 12:18 In-Context

16 fatuus statim indicat iram suam qui autem dissimulat iniuriam callidus est
17 qui quod novit loquitur index iustitiae est qui autem mentitur testis est fraudulentus
18 est qui promittit et quasi gladio pungitur conscientiae lingua autem sapientium sanitas est
19 labium veritatis firmum erit in perpetuum qui autem testis est repentinus concinnat linguam mendacii
20 dolus in corde cogitantium mala qui autem ineunt pacis consilia sequitur eos gaudium
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.