Proverbs 10:20 - Solomon's Proverbs: The Wise Son

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Context

Solomon's Proverbs: The Wise Son
…19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. 20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.…

Cross References

Matthew 12:34-37
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. / But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ...James 3:5-12
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. / The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. / All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ...Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.Proverbs 15:4
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 15:4
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Proverbs 16:13
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

the heart

Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Genesis 6:5
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 8:21
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

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Proverbs 10

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver
The imagery of "choice silver" suggests something of great value and purity. In biblical times, silver was a precious metal, often used in trade and as a standard of wealth. The comparison to silver indicates that the words of the righteous are not only valuable but also refined and beneficial. This aligns with the biblical principle that the words of the righteous bring wisdom and life (Proverbs 10:11, Proverbs 12:18). The tongue, representing speech, is a powerful tool that can build up or tear down (James 3:5-6). The righteous, those who live in accordance with God's will, use their words to edify and encourage others, reflecting the wisdom and purity of their hearts (Matthew 12:34-35).

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).

Persons / Places / Events

1. Solomon
Traditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. Proverbs is a collection of his wise sayings.

2. The Righteous
In the context of Proverbs, the righteous are those who live according to God's laws and principles, embodying wisdom and moral integrity.

3. The Wicked
Those who reject God's ways, often characterized by moral corruption and foolishness.

4. Ancient Israel
The cultural and historical backdrop of Proverbs, where wisdom literature was a key part of teaching and moral instruction.

5. Wisdom Literature
A genre of biblical writing that includes Proverbs, focusing on practical and ethical living.

Teaching Points

The Value of Righteous Speech
The words of the righteous are precious and valuable, akin to choice silver. This highlights the importance of speaking truth and wisdom, which can have a profound impact on others.

The Heart's Influence on Speech
The condition of one's heart directly influences their speech. A righteous heart produces valuable words, while a wicked heart results in words of little worth.

Guarding Our Hearts and Tongues
As believers, we are called to guard our hearts and tongues, ensuring that our speech reflects our faith and values. This involves regular self-examination and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

The Impact of Words
Words have the power to build up or tear down. As Christians, we should strive to use our words to encourage, edify, and speak truth into the lives of others.

Pursuing Righteousness
The pursuit of righteousness is not just about actions but also about cultivating a heart that aligns with God's will, which in turn influences our speech and interactions.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 10How do Proverbs contrast wise and foolish women?Proverbs 10:3 claims God prevents the righteous from going hungry--how do we reconcile this with starving believers throughout history?Who is a ransom for whom? Mark 10:45 and I Timothy 2:5-6 say Christ is a ransom for many/all. Proverbs 21:18 says the wicked is a ransom for the righteous.What does the Bible say about verbal abuse?

Verse 20. - Choice (Proverbs 8:10, 19); tested, purified by fire; πεπυρωμένος, Septuagint. Is little worth; mere dross, in contradistinction to choice silver. So the tongue is contrasted with the heart, out of whose abundance it speaketh (Ecclus. 21:26, "The heart of fools is in their mouth; but the mouth of the wise is in their heart"). Septuagint, "The heart of the godless shall fail (ἐκλείψει)." Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The tongue
לְשׁ֣וֹן (lə·šō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 3956: The tongue

of the righteous
צַדִּ֑יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

[is] choice
נִ֭בְחָר (niḇ·ḥār)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 977: To try, select

silver,
כֶּ֣סֶף (ke·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

[but] the heart
לֵ֖ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

of the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֣ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

[has] little worth.
כִּמְעָֽט׃ (kim·‘āṭ)
Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

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Proverbs 10:20 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is like (Prov. Pro Pr)