The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
Parallel translations
- WEB The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
- BSB The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
- NKJV The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
- NASB The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
- NLT The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The righteous speak wisdom, but the deceitful tongue will be silenced. What flows from the mouth reveals the heart and meets a fitting end.
Overview
The contrast is between speech that bears the fruit of wisdom and speech that is twisted and will be 'cut off' in judgment. Proverbs repeatedly ties our words to our character and to God's verdict on our lives. Wholesome speech is part of the new life Christ works in His people, who are called to let no corrupt word proceed from their mouths.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 37:30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
- Prov 10:13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
- Prov 10:20–21The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
- Ps 63:11But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
- Ps 120:3–4What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
- Ps 31:18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
- Prov 10:11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 10:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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