The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The lips of the righteous feed many:but fools die for want of wisdom. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. Wise men lay upknowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reprooferreth. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver:the heart of the wicked is little worth.
Why does Solomon speak so frequently about our words, the tongue and the effect these things have on our lives and the lives of those around us? It's because the problem with our mouth is far deeper than the words that come out. Jesus said: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matt 12:34) Our words are simply a symptom of the heart inside. And that's why, in verse 20, the author appears to use 'tongue' and 'heart' interchangeably. "The tongue of the just..but the heart." In order for our mouth, our words to be "a well of life," that well must spring from a converted, Christ-like heart of "choice silver."
So the challenge for me and you is to listen to our words today. Think before you babble and diagnose the state of your heart by the fruit of your tongue. Pray for God to give you a heart of "choice silver" today.
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