Proverbs 10:11 - Exposition

A well of life ( Proverbs 13:14 : Proverbs 18:4 ). The good man utters words of wisdom, comfort, and edification. God himself is said to have "the well of life" ( Psalms 36:9 ), and to be "the Fountain of living waters" ( Jeremiah 2:13 ): and the holy man, drawing from this supply, sheds life and health around. The second clause should be takes as in Proverbs 10:6 , but the mouth of the wicked concealeth violence, the contrast being between the open usefulness of the good man's words and the harmful reticence of the malicious sinner. The Septuagint has, "A fountain of life is in the hand of the righteous; but destruction shall cover the mouth of the wicked." This is explained to mean that a good man's words and actions tend to spiritual health; a bad man's words bring down sorrow and punishment.