Proverbs 18:7

7 A fool's mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life.[a]

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 show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent.
6 A fool's lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.
7 A fool's mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life.
8 A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being.
9 The one who is truly lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.

Footnotes 1

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