Proverbs 10:31

The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
– Proverbs 10:31

To bring forth is literally to germinate or bear fruit. It is also put figuratively for speech as the idea that words are the fruit produced. A just man will bear the fruit of wisdom in his speech (Psalm 37:30). The froward tongue is contrasted. The word indicates something twisted, crooked, or otherwise perverse. Wicked prattling will ultimately be stopped (Psalm 31:18). The cutting out promised in the proverb puts one in mind of a bad tree with bad fruit being cut down and burned up.

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