The heart of the wicked is little worth - כמעט kimat , is like little or nothing; or is like dross, while the tongue of the just is like silver. A sinner's heart is worth nothing, and is good for nothing; and yet because it is his most hidden part, he vaunts of its honesty, goodness, etc.! Yes, yes; it is very honest and good, only the devil is in it! that is all. read more
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich - Whatever we receive in the way of providence, has God's blessing in it, and will do us good. Cares, troubles, and difficulties come with all property not acquired in this way; but God's blessing gives simple enjoyment, and levies no tax upon the comfort. read more
The service of speech, etc "Man is a talking animal," we say. But if we are distinguished from the brute creation by the mere fact of speech, how truly are we divided from one another by the use we make of that human faculty! To what height of worthiness one man may rise, and what inestimable service he may render, but to what depth of wrong another man may fall, and what mischief he may work, by the use of his tongue! I. THE SERVICE OF SPEECH . "By our words" we may do great... read more
A sevenfold strain of experience For the most part these sayings relate to earthly goods—their value, and the means for their acquisition. Godliness has the promise of both lives. Equally incredible would a religion which ignored the future be with one which ignored the present. Equally one-sided is the expectation only of earthly good from wisdom, and the expectation only of heavenly good. We must beware of a false materializing and of a false spiritualizing of religion. I. THE ... read more
This verse ought to be translated, He that hideth hatred is [a man] of lying lips, and he that uttereth slander is a fool . He who cherishes hatred in the heart must be a liar and a hypocrite, speaking and acting in a way contrary to his real sentiments; if he divulges his slander, he is a stupid fool, injuring his neighbour, and procuring ill will for himself. The LXX . reads, "Just ( δίκαια ) lips conceal hatred;" but probably δίκαια is an error for ἄδικα or δόλια ,... read more
There wanteth not sin; LXX ; "Thou wilt not avoid sin." Loquacity leads to exaggeration and untruthfulness, slander and uncharitableness (comp. Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 ; and Christ's and James's solemn warnings, Matthew 12:36 ; James 1:26 ; James 3:2 , etc.). "Speak little," says Pinart ('Meditations,' ch. 6.), "because for one sin which we may commit by keeping silence where it would be well to speak, we commit.a hundred by speaking upon all occasions" (see on Proverbs 17:27 ),... read more
Golden silence I. THE SINFUL CHARACTER OF MUCH ORDINARY CONVERSATION SHOULD INDUCE GREAT CAUTION IN SPEECH . It is a grave charge to bring against the tone of general society to say that "in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin." But is it not as true now as it was in the days of Solomon? "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" but "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," and therefore, so long as human nature is... read more
(See homily on Proverbs 29:11 .)—C. read more
Choice ( Proverbs 8:10 , Proverbs 8:19 ); 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 (Ec Proverbs 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 )." read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words - It is impossible to speak much, and yet speak nothing but truth; and injure no man's character in the mean while. read more