Proverbes 12:18

18 Il y a tel homme dont les paroles blessent comme des pointes d'épée; mais la langue des sages est guérison.

Proverbes 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword
Whose words are like sharp swords, cutting, wounding, dividing, killing; see ( Psalms 57:4 ) ( 59:7 ) ( 64:3 ) ; such are the words of false witnesses, who by their false testimonies and perjuries are as guilty of the murder of men as cutthroats; such are the words of slanderers, backbiters, and talebearers, who grieve the innocent, wound their characters, destroy their good name and credit, and separate chief friends; and such are the words of antichrist, who looks like a lamb, but speaks like a dragon, ( Revelation 13:11 ) ; but the tongue of the wise [is] health;
or "healing" F5; by giving a faithful testimony which sets matters right; by clearing and defending the character of those who are falsely accused and wrongfully charged; by making up differences, and reconciling persons at variance through the detracting and lying insinuations of others; and by speaking comfortable, cheerful, and refreshing words to the injured and abused; especially the tongue of a wise minister of the Gospel is health, or healing, to wounded souls, to whom he ministers the Gospel of the grace of God, which directs to Christ for healing, peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (aprm) "medicinae", Junius & Tremellius; "medicina", Piscator, Cocceius; "sanatio", Michaelis; "sanatrix", Schultens.

Proverbes 12:18 In-Context

16 Le dépit de l'insensé se connaît le jour même; mais celui qui est bien avisé, dissimule l'injure.
17 Celui qui dit la vérité, rend un témoignage juste; mais le faux témoin soutient la fraude.
18 Il y a tel homme dont les paroles blessent comme des pointes d'épée; mais la langue des sages est guérison.
19 La lèvre véridique est affermie pour toujours; mais la langue fausse n'est que pour un moment.
20 La tromperie est dans le cœur de ceux qui machinent le mal; mais la joie est pour ceux qui conseillent la paix.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.