Proverbs 10:31

31 The mouth of a just man shall bring forth wisdom; the tongue of shrews shall perish. (The mouths of the righteous shall bring forth wisdom; and the tongues of the depraved shall be stopped.)

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 strength of a simple man is the way of the Lord; and dread to them that work evil. (The way of the Lord giveth strength to an honest person; but fear to those who work evil.)
30 A just man shall not be moved [into] without end; but wicked men shall not dwell on the earth. (The righteous shall not be moved forever; but the wicked shall not remain on the earth, or in the land.)
31 The mouth of a just man shall bring forth wisdom; the tongue of shrews shall perish. (The mouths of the righteous shall bring forth wisdom; and the tongues of the depraved shall be stopped.)
32 The lips of a just man behold pleasant things; and the mouth of wicked men beholdeth wayward things. (The lips of the righteous always know what is kind, or pleasant, to say; but the mouths of the wicked speak forth only hurtful things.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.