The Parts

Prov 27.17

mouth – a figure of speech for what proceeds from the mouth, our words, our speech, indeed, our very heart, cf. Matt 15.18 below. Our mouth is the window to the world of our heart/mind!

mouth of the righteous – “righteous” is always tied to relationship, 1^st with the Lord, then with those around us. These words are wisdom based, consistent, true, fair, loving, upbuilding.

mouth of the wicked – a “wicked” person is someone not in relationship; they’re only looking out for self! Therefore, the words are partial in truth, manipulative in direction, self?satisfying, self?promoting. There is no substance in these words (or in the life that speaks them!).

fountain of life – a source of vitality, strength, refreshment, healing, benefit

violence – almost always sinful violence. This is a characteristic of those judged in the Flood, cf. Gen 6.11 where this word parallels “corrupt,” and Gen 6.13 where it parallels “destroyed.”

This rendition “But the mouth of the righteous conceals violence” is preferable to the NIV, which follows Delitzsch (Proverbs Volume 1:212–13) in taking “mouth” as the object rather than subject. The NIV also translates “conceals” as “overwhelms” (also v6) which is forced and not the best translation of kasah. The idea is the wicked use their mouth, a figure of speech for their words, to cover/conceal their violence.
See: Duane A. Garrett, vol. 14, “Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs,” electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1993).

Proverbs’ focus on character (noted in the previous verse) continues here. It is “character” which preserves, is blessed, and brings a blessing.

Prov 10.6-11
⁶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
⁷ The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.

                        ⁸ The wise of heart will receive commands,
                        But a babbling fool will be ruined.

                        ⁹ He who walks in integrity walks securely,
                        But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

            ¹⁰ He who winks the eye causes trouble,
            And a babbling fool will be ruined.

¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

References to consider:

Matt 12.34
³⁴ “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Matt 6.21
²¹ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt 15.18
¹⁸ “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Luke 6.43-45
⁴³ “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.
⁴⁴ “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.
⁴⁵ “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Prov 13.14
¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.

Prov 4.23-24
²³ Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.

Sharpening for my life today:

Character in my life produces “fruit” in the lives of others. The converse is also true, lack of character is fruitless to those around me, reason, the focus is on “self” which robs from others to satisfy me, even with my words!

We can literally come alongside another with a “fountain of life,” i.e., blessing, strength, healing, comfort, power, and more, with the words with speak!

Take a second look at the “References to consider” and let this tip of the iceberg from God’s Word soak in. Our words are very important, they reveal our character, they reveal our relationship with the Lord and with others. Our words are one of the significant ways the Lord works in and through us to display His glory and bring His blessing!