The words of the righteous give life, but the wicked hide violence behind their speech.
In Proverbs 10:11, Solomon writes: The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence (v. 11). Here he returns to the theme of speech, but with a beautiful image. Righteous words are like water in a dry land—they refresh, strengthen, and sustain.
A fountain of life is not occasional or accidental. It is a continuing source of blessing. The righteous speak in ways that nourish others because their hearts have been shaped by wisdom. Their words can instruct, comfort, warn, and encourage, and all of that becomes life-giving to the people around them.
The wicked use speech differently. Their mouths conceal violence, meaning that even when they speak smoothly, harm lies beneath. This sharp contrast reminds us that words are never neutral. Jesus similarly teaches that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45), and Solomon’s proverb points in that same direction.
Proverbs 10:11
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
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Proverbs 10:11 meaning
In Proverbs 10:11, Solomon writes: The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence (v. 11). Here he returns to the theme of speech, but with a beautiful image. Righteous words are like water in a dry land—they refresh, strengthen, and sustain.
A fountain of life is not occasional or accidental. It is a continuing source of blessing. The righteous speak in ways that nourish others because their hearts have been shaped by wisdom. Their words can instruct, comfort, warn, and encourage, and all of that becomes life-giving to the people around them.
The wicked use speech differently. Their mouths conceal violence, meaning that even when they speak smoothly, harm lies beneath. This sharp contrast reminds us that words are never neutral. Jesus similarly teaches that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45), and Solomon’s proverb points in that same direction.