Proverbs 10:20
Righteous speech is valuable and life-giving, but the heart of the wicked lacks lasting worth.
20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
Righteous speech is valuable and life-giving, but the heart of the wicked lacks lasting worth.
To contrast the moral and relational value of the speech of the righteous with the emptiness of the heart of the wicked.
This proverb continues the extended focus on speech and character in Proverbs 10, building directly on the previous verse about restraint. The imagery shifts to economic valuation, comparing speech to precious metal and the heart to something of minimal value. This reinforces the recurring theme that speech reflects internal reality. The contrast between tongue and heart highlights the connection between outward expression and inward condition. Within the broader section, this verse contributes to the cumulative teaching that wisdom produces speech of great worth, while wickedness results in emptiness and insignificance.
Proverbs 10:20 reflects a culture where precious metals like silver were highly valued and used as standards of worth. This imagery communicates the comparative value of speech and inner character.
The Righteous and the Wicked: Wisdom in Speech, Work, Wealth, and Life
The righteous and the wicked are revealed in ordinary life, especially in speech, work, wealth, discipline, and desire, and the LORD's moral order leads the righteous toward life while folly moves the wicked toward ruin.