Proverbs 10:11

Proverbs 10:11, in plain English

The righteous person's words flow out like fresh, life-giving water that sustains others, while the wicked person's mouth hides the violence they're capable of.

Why it's here

Solomon returns to the power of words. He's contrasting two sources: one that gives and nourishes, one that poisons from within. In a world without modern medicine or abundance, the image of a fountain of life would have been incredibly vivid—water means survival.

Who's speaking

Solomon, using powerful imagery to show the life-and-death impact of different kinds of speech.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus later described himself as living water, and the connection between the righteous person's life-giving words and spiritual truth runs throughout Scripture. This is about more than just being nice—it's about words that actually carry life.

The scholarly reading

The righteous person's speech functions as a life-giving resource for others, while the wicked person's communication, though superficially pleasant, masks internal violence and destruction.

Language and setting

The image of the righteous's mouth as a 'fountain of life' (meqôr ḥayyîm) employs water imagery evocative of Psalm 1's 'tree planted by streams of water'—generative, nourishing, essential. Their speech produces renewal and blessing. The parallel structure mirrors verse 6 precisely, emphasizing that the wicked's communications, regardless of outward form, conceal rather than express: their mouths mask the violence that characterizes their inner life. This addresses the question: Can one trust what the wicked say?

Voice

Solomon, who understood that speech from the righteous genuinely nourishes while speech from the wicked, however persuasive, corrupts.

Significance

This verse anticipates Jesus's identity as 'living water' (John 4:10) and his teaching that the righteous will 'inherit life' while the wicked are revealed as murderers and thieves (Matthew 13:49-50).

9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

Read all of Proverbs 10 — The collection proper begins. Paired contrasts — wise and foolish, righteous and wicked, diligent and lazy — packed into single verses.