If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
If you have been foolish by being prideful and thinking too highly of yourself, or if you have been planning something evil, put your hand over your mouth and stop talking.
This verse is warning us that when we've been prideful or had bad thoughts, we should stop talking before we make things worse.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from the sayings of Agur in Proverbs 30, who was a wise teacher in ancient Israel. In Hebrew culture, putting one's hand over the mouth was a gesture of humility and silence, often used when someone realized they had spoken inappropriately or needed to show respect. The wisdom literature of the Old Testament frequently warned against pride and the damage that uncontrolled speech could cause.
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