KJV ORIGINAL
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
A good person's heart carefully thinks before speaking, but a wicked person's mouth pours out evil words.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse teaches that righteous people think carefully before they speak, while wicked people carelessly spout harmful words.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from the collection of wise sayings attributed to King Solomon, written around 950 BC. In ancient Hebrew culture, the 'heart' was considered the center of thought and decision-making, not just emotion. The contrast between careful speech and careless words was especially important in a society where spoken agreements and public reputation carried great weight.
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