Proverbs 16:23

23 The heart of the wise will make his mouth judicious, and upon his lips, it will add persuasiveness.

Proverbs 16:23 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:23

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth
That is, a man that is wise in heart, as in ( Proverbs 16:21 ) ; his heart will teach his mouth what to say, when to say it, and before whom; it will prompt him to matter, that he shall not be at a loss what to say, nor how to say; it will furnish him with words and things; out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, ( Matthew 12:34 ) ; and addeth learning to his lips:
so that he does not deliver out mere words, but solid learning along with them, instructive to himself and others. The Targum is,

``and by his lips he addeth doctrine;''

or increases knowledge.

Proverbs 16:23 In-Context

21 The wise of heart is called perceptive, but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.

22 A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner, but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise will make his mouth judicious, and upon his lips, it will add persuasiveness.

24 Pleasant sayings [are] a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way [that seems] upright {to} a man, but its end [is] the way of death.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "mind"
• [b]. Or "he"