Proverbs 18:7

7 A ¹fool's mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

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 To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool's lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows.

7 A fool's mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 64:8; Psalms 140:9; Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 13:3; Ecclesiastes 10:12