Proverbs 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered to him. The word which issues out of the lips is the greatest power in human life. Words will change the currents of life. On the use of the tongue depend the issues of a man's own life. Such fruits as a man's tongue bears, a man must eat. If his words have been good, then he shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The fool's lips are always coming into strife, and his mouth is always calling for stripes. His lips are the snare of his soul. An old proverb says, "A fool's tongue is always long enough to cut his own throat." 1. The tongue is a fruitful source of quarrelling and discord. A fool cannot hide his vexation, but must immediately blurt it out with the tongue, and make mischief. 2. The tongue is the instrument of lying. It is the tongue which by false witness so often condemns the innocent. 3. Closely allied to lying is flattery, which is always a mistake. 4. Another evil use of the tongue is whispering and tale-bearing. Disclosing the secret of another is a sure way of incurring reproach and lasting infamy. 5. The tongue is sometimes employed to plot, plan, and execute mischief. 6. More pardonable vices are rashness and inopportuneness of speech. Yet these are evil enough in their way. 7. We need caution against excessive speech. There are good and beautiful uses of the tongue. It is the instrument of peace-making, of wise reproof, of the instruction of the innocent, and the championship of the distressed. (R. F. Horton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. |
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