Proverbs 10:21 - Our words have results

Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous feed many,

But fools die for lack of understanding. 

Message: Our words have results

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: Noticing now in many of these contrasts there are 3 aspects of each vice and virtue. To break it down, the virtue consists of "lips", "righteous" and "feed many." Verse 20 recorded a contrast between the righteous and the wicked and that seems to be a very common contrast in the proverbs. Again, there are clear benefits in being a righteous person, who is wise, but also wise in the right areas. This is contrasted with foods or those that are wicked. The fool part of the verse consists of "fools", "die" and "lack understanding." 

To simplify further, the basic idea here is 'what we say', and 'what we know.' The King James translates  knowing or understanding as wisdom. 

Here the righteous are outward focused, feeding many with feeding more likely figuratively for passing along words of encouragement, counsel, comfort. In other words, the righteous have an impact beyond themselves. The wicked or fool in this verse is lacking understanding. It is as if the fool simply does not get it and dies in the process. 

Looking at the various translations, I notice the Good News Translation says, "A good person's words will benefit many people, but you can kill yourself with stupidity." The Good News Translation was published in 1966 with the New Testament and in 1976 with the Old Testament. It is a translation that focuses more on translating thoughts than word for word. For this verse, the comparison is benefitting others where the other way can't even help yourself. 

It is as if we need to have some sort of basic understanding in life. I think this contrast between righteous and wicked is not prevalent much in life today. It simply seems that we don't look at ourselves or people in this manner much. Rather, everyone is good and some just make bad choices. But, I think Solomon is possibly showing the clear comparison that perhaps God sees with people - the righteous or good versus the fool or wicked. 

I wonder if I wallow back-and-forth between being good and righteous with being selfish and wicked and foolish. I wonder at times if I just reside in the middle road. Do I stand out? Am I speaking truth? I might edifying others?

Prayer: O God, my words mean a lot. Help me Lord to be better about speaking. Help me to choose my words wisely. I want my words to have good outcomes and benefit others. It is hard. I second-guess myself at times. Plus I say things I shouldn't all the time. Thankfully your grace is there and it covers me. I need to be covered. Help me to be wise.