Mishle 16:23

23 The lev chacham guides his peh (mouth), and addeth learning to his sfatayim (lips).

Mishle 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.

Mishle 16:23 In-Context

21 The chacham lev shall be called prudent, and the sweetness of the sfatayim (lips) adds to learning.

22 Seichel is a Makor Chayyim unto him that hath it, but the musar (instruction, discipline) of fools is folly.

23 The lev chacham guides his peh (mouth), and addeth learning to his sfatayim (lips).

24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the nefesh, and marpeh (healing) to the atzmot (bones).

25 There is a derech that seemeth yashar (right) before an ish, but its acharit (future, latter end) is the drakhei mavet.