The Meaning of Proverbs 10:31 Explained

Proverbs 10:31

KJV: The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

YLT: The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.

Darby: The mouth of a righteous man putteth forth wisdom; but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

ASV: The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The mouth  of the just  bringeth forth  wisdom:  but the froward  tongue  shall be cut out. 

What does Proverbs 10:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 10:17-32 - The Blessing Of The Lord Maketh Rich
Let us specially avoid talking too much. Silence is golden. See Proverbs 10:19. Yet the tongue of the just is as choice silver and the lips of the righteous feed many, Proverbs 10:20-21. When we speak, let us say something and let the people to whom we speak feel that their heart is lighter and that the heavenly horizons are nearer and clearer. Whatever you do, beware of uttering slander, Proverbs 10:18. You know, by your own experience, what is acceptable; see to it that your mouth brings forth wisdom and grace, Proverbs 10:31-32.
But this portion of Scripture deals, not only with the speech of the good man, but with his stability. The blessing of God is upon him, enriching him in all manner of ways; and there is no alloy in this gold, no bitterness in God's love, Proverbs 10:22. The desire of the righteous is granted, because it is begotten of the divine Spirit. He is built on the Everlasting Rock, Proverbs 10:25; Proverbs 10:30. His hope is gladness, Proverbs 10:28. As he walks in God's way, he gathers strength, Proverbs 10:29. Though he fall he is not utterly cast down; for God succors him with His saving strength, Psalms 37:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 10

1  Proverbs of Solomon: observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices

What do the individual words in Proverbs 10:31 mean?

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom but the tongue perverse will be cut out
פִּֽי־ צַ֭דִּיק יָנ֣וּב חָכְמָ֑ה וּלְשׁ֥וֹן תַּ֝הְפֻּכ֗וֹת תִּכָּרֵֽת

פִּֽי־  The  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
צַ֭דִּיק  of  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
יָנ֣וּב  brings  forth 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּב  
Sense: to bear fruit.
חָכְמָ֑ה  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
וּלְשׁ֥וֹן  but  the  tongue 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
תַּ֝הְפֻּכ֗וֹת  perverse 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תַּהְפֻּכֹות  
Sense: perversity, perverse thing.
תִּכָּרֵֽת  will  be  cut  out 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.