Proverbs 10:31

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.

Proverbs 10:31 in Other Translations

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

31 A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.

31 The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.

31 The mouth of a righteous person increases wisdom, but a devious tongue will be cut off.

31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

31 The mouths of those who do right produce wisdom. But tongues that speak twisted words will be cut out.

Proverbs 10:31 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 10:31

The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom
As the earth brings forth its increase, and a tree brings forth its fruit; hence speech is called the fruit of the lips; wisdom is good fruit; a good man is comparable to the fruitful earth, and to a good tree; whose mouth brings forth wise things in abundance, which are very pleasant and profitable; not worldly wisdom, much less devilish; not merely natural wisdom, but spiritual and evangelical; see ( Psalms 37:30 ) ; but the froward tongue shall be cut out;
or "cut down" ^F26; as an unprofitable tree, which brings forth nothing but perverse things; things contrary to God and good men, to truth and right reason, to the light of nature, the law of God, and Gospel of Christ. Such "a tongue of perversities" ^F1, as it may be rendered, that brings forth blasphemies against God, his tabernacle and his saints, as the tongue of antichrist does, deserves to be cut out, as the tongue of a blasphemer.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (trkt) "succidetur", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus.
F1 (twkpht Nwvl) "lingua perversitatum", Montanus, Junius & Tremeilius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 10:31 In-Context

29 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

30 The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 13; S Proverbs 15:2; Proverbs 31:26; Psalms 37:30
• 2. S Psalms 52:4