The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright
As the heart of a wise and good man is filled with useful
knowledge, civil, moral, spiritual, and evangelical; so he takes
care to communicate it, at proper times and seasons, in proper
places, and to proper persons; adapting it to their case and
circumstances, so as it may be for their comfort, edification,
and instruction, and minister grace unto them; which is using
knowledge "well", as the word F19 signifies: such an use of it
recommends it, and makes it appear beautiful and lovely,
decorates and adorns it. Thus every good man, out of the good
treasure of knowledge in his heart, brings forth his good things
seasonably, to the use of edifying; in like manner, ministers of
the word, scribes well instructed in the things of God, bring
forth both new and old, to the profit of those to whom they
minister; so Christ, as man and Mediator, had the tongue of the
learned, to speak a word in season to weary souls; but the
mouth of fools poureth out foolishness;
their knowledge, as they take it to be, but it is no other than
folly; this they throw out in great plenty, in a hurry, without
fear or wit; they "babble" it out, as the word F20
signifies, as water out of a fountain; their hearts are full of
it, and their mouths proclaim it, ( Proverbs
12:23 ) .
F19 (byjyh) "utitur bene", Castalio; "pulchre", Vatablus.
F20 (eyby) "effutit, ebullit, fundit", Vatablus; "eructat", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "ebullit", V. L. Tigurine version, Schultens; "scaturire facit", Michaelis.