Homilist Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom: but the fraudulent tongue shall be cut out. Solomon attaches great importance to the power of the tongue to work good or ill. I. THE SPEECH OF THE GOOD MAN IS VALUABLE, THAT OF THE OTHER IS WORTHLESS. Solomon brings the heart and the tongue into comparison, rather than the tongue of each, to express the idea that speech is always the outcome and exponent of the heart. II. THE SPEECH OF THE GOOD MAN IS NOURISHING, THAT OF THE OTHER IS KILLING. How one soul can nourish and invigorate another by the language of truth and love. The spiritual destroyer of humanity makes corrupt words his wings to bear him through the world. III. THE SPEECH OF THE GOOD MAN IS WISE, THAT OF THE OTHER IS FOOLISH. The words of him whose intellect is under the teachings of God, and whose heart is in vital sympathy with Him, are wise words. The policies propounded by the wicked may seem wise at first, but time always exposes their folly, and brings its disciples to confusion and shame. IV. THE SPEECH OF THE GOOD MAN IS ACCEPTABLE, THAT OF THE OTHER IS PERVERSE. The words of truth are always acceptable to God, as they are also to all thoughtful and candid men. There is a "frowardness" in the utterances of the wicked that is distasteful to all consciences, and repugnant to the heart of God and the good. What are the elements of good moral speech? Sincerity and purity. By sincerity is meant the strict correspondence of the language with the sentiments of the heart. By purity is meant the strict correspondence of those sentiments with the principles of everlasting right. (Homilist.). Parallel Verses KJV: The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.WEB: The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. |
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