Proverbs 10:31-32 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaks frowardness.
‘The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.’ The mouth of the just speaks wisdom, but the tongue of the perverse will be cut out. It was an ancient custom in some nations to cut out the tongue for blasphemy, lying, treasonable speeches, and other vocal crimes.
‘The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaks forwardness.’ The righteous know what is acceptable and profitable to speak, but the wicked know what is perverse. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us not to be deceived because evil communications corrupt good manners. Thus, evil ones will corrupt good morals.
‘Frowardness’ [Hebrew: ‛iqqesh] perverse. All such persons are an abomination to God (3:32; 11:20). There are ten froward things noted in Scripture: Generation (Deut. 32:20). Heart (11:20; 17:20; Ps. 101:4). Speech (2:12; 10:31). Paths (2:15). Mouth (4:24; 6:12; 8:13). Tongue (10:31). Men (16:28; 22:5; 1Pet. 2:18). Plans (6:14; 16:30). Ways (21:8; Isa. 57:17). God, when He is forced to be perverse with the wicked to punish them for sin (Ps. 18:26).
Living the Word 