Proverbs 10:11

11 A good person's words are a fountain of life, but a wicked person's words hide a violent nature.

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 Honest people are safe and secure, but the dishonest will be caught.
10 Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticizes works for peace.
11 A good person's words are a fountain of life, but a wicked person's words hide a violent nature.
12 Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.
13 Intelligent people talk sense, but stupid people need to be punished.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.