What is the meaning of Proverbs 10:11? The mouth of the righteous • Scripture takes the “mouth” seriously, seeing it as the public overflow of the heart (Matthew 12:34). • “Righteous” people are those who have been declared right by God and now seek to live uprightly (Psalm 37:30; Proverbs 15:28). • Their speech: – Reflects integrity (Proverbs 12:17). – Builds instead of breaks (Ephesians 4:29). – Aligns with God’s revealed truth, never twisting it for personal gain (2 Corinthians 4:2). is a fountain of life • A “fountain” never stops flowing; it refreshes everyone who draws near (John 4:14; Proverbs 13:14). • Righteous words give life because they: – Point to the Giver of life—“Whoever believes in Me… streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:38). – Offer wisdom that guards from sin’s snares (Proverbs 14:27). – Bring comfort and healing (Proverbs 15:4; Isaiah 50:4). • In daily practice this looks like: – Sharing the gospel clearly. – Giving gentle counsel. – Speaking hope when others despair. but the mouth of the wicked • The conjunction “but” signals a stark contrast; there is no middle ground (Psalm 1:6). • “Wicked” describes those who reject God’s ways and follow their own (Proverbs 11:20). • Their words commonly: – Spread strife (Proverbs 16:28). – Entice others into sin (Proverbs 1:10-12). – Mock righteousness (Psalm 10:7). conceals violence • The wicked do not always trumpet evil; they hide it beneath pleasant-sounding speech (Psalm 55:21). • Violence here includes any intent to harm—physically, emotionally, spiritually (Proverbs 12:6). • Ways this concealment shows up: – Flattery masking exploitation (Proverbs 26:24-26). – Deceptive teaching that drifts from truth (2 Peter 2:1). – Slander whispered in secret (Proverbs 16:27). • God exposes such hidden schemes, and His people must remain discerning (Matthew 7:15-20). summary Proverbs 10:11 teaches that speech reveals two radically different hearts. Words from the righteous, grounded in God’s truth, continuously refresh and give life like an ever-flowing spring. Words from the wicked, however winsome, cloak harmful intentions and lead toward destruction. The verse calls every believer to guard the heart, let Christ rule the tongue, and allow life-giving words to spill over for the blessing of all who listen. |
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