The speech of the righteous is precious and valuable, while the inner life of the wicked lacks worth.
In Proverbs 10:20, Solomon says, The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little (v. 20). Here righteous speech is compared to precious metal. Choice silver is refined, valuable, and useful, and that is how Solomon describes the words of the righteous.
This means righteous speech is not merely correct in content, but weighty in value. It carries truth, steadiness, and benefit. Because the righteous person has been formed inwardly by wisdom, his tongue becomes a channel of what is precious. His words can be trusted because they are shaped by what is true.
The wicked are described differently: the heart of the wicked is worth little. This shows that the problem is deeper than speech alone. The heart itself lacks substance because it is detached from God’s wisdom. Since speechflows from within, empty hearts produce empty or corrupt words.
Proverbs 10:20
20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
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Proverbs 10:20 meaning
In Proverbs 10:20, Solomon says, The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little (v. 20). Here righteous speech is compared to precious metal. Choice silver is refined, valuable, and useful, and that is how Solomon describes the words of the righteous.
This means righteous speech is not merely correct in content, but weighty in value. It carries truth, steadiness, and benefit. Because the righteous person has been formed inwardly by wisdom, his tongue becomes a channel of what is precious. His words can be trusted because they are shaped by what is true.
The wicked are described differently: the heart of the wicked is worth little. This shows that the problem is deeper than speech alone. The heart itself lacks substance because it is detached from God’s wisdom. Since speechflows from within, empty hearts produce empty or corrupt words.