but the heart of the wicked has little worth
In contrast, the "heart of the wicked" is described as having "little worth." The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including thoughts, emotions, and intentions (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The wicked, those who reject God's ways, have hearts that produce worthless or harmful outcomes. This reflects the biblical theme that evil intentions lead to destructive actions and words (Matthew 15:18-19). The lack of worth in the wicked's heart suggests a life devoid of spiritual value and eternal significance. This contrast between the righteous and the wicked underscores the importance of aligning one's heart with God's righteousness, as seen in the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized the transformation of the heart (Matthew 5:8, John 7:38).

- “The tongue of the righteous” points first to character. Scripture never separates what we say from who we are (Luke 6:45).

- Because the text is literally true, a believer’s speech must consistently line up with God’s own words.

- What righteous speech looks like:

- It teaches and comforts—“The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice” (Psalm 37:30).

- It heals—“A gentle tongue is a tree of life” (Proverbs 15:4).

- It exercises self-control—“If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man” (James 3:2).

- When Christ rules the heart, the tongue becomes His instrument, offering counsel that leads others toward life (Proverbs 10:11).

- “Choice silver” highlights value, purity, and enduring worth.

- Value: people search for wisdom “like silver” (Proverbs 2:4); so words formed by that wisdom are priceless.

- Purity: “The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace” (Psalm 12:6). Righteous speech shares that same purity because it echoes God’s Word.

- Beauty: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

- Practical picture:

- Silver resists corrosion; truthful words don’t tarnish with time.

- Silver acts as currency; godly counsel enriches every relationship it touches.

- Whenever we open our mouths, we either spend precious metal or cheap counterfeit. Proverbs 10:20 insists that the righteous invest only what is truly valuable.

- The contrast shifts from “tongue” to “heart,” exposing the root problem—character precedes conversation.

- Scripture’s consistent diagnosis:

- “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9).

- “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery…” (Matthew 15:19).

- “With deceit in his heart he devises evil” (Proverbs 6:14).

- Because the inner person is corrupt, anything produced—words, plans, or attitudes—will reflect that corruption (Psalm 14:1).

- The wicked may polish their speech, yet God sees the source. A poisoned spring cannot yield pure water (James 3:11).

- “Little worth” is literally “few” or “scant” value—practically nothing.

- “A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth” (Proverbs 6:12).

- Empty talk brings judgment: “Let no one deceive you with empty words” (Ephesians 5:6).

- In the end, those who refuse truth are “unfit for any good deed” (Titus 1:15-16).

- What makes wicked speech worthless?

- It cannot build up or save.

- It misleads, dividing rather than uniting.

- It perishes with this world; only what is rooted in truth lasts.

Proverbs 10:20 draws a sharp, literal line between the righteous and the wicked. The speech of the righteous is as valuable, pure, and enduring as choice silver because it flows from hearts aligned with God. In contrast, the very center of the wicked person is so corrupt that anything issuing from it is practically worthless. The verse calls every believer to treasure and guard godly speech, knowing that our words reveal the true state of our hearts and carry eternal weight.