Proverbs 18:7
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A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
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Guard your speech at any cost! If you talk too much, cut your words in half! If you cannot say something edifying and gracious, say nothing at all! A fool cannot control his speech. It often gets him in trouble. His speech traps him in sin. Much of the pain in his life is because of words he should not have said. Training your lips can save your life!
The Preacher used simple figures of speech, metonymy in this case, to make a powerful point in a few words. Mouth and lips, the means of talking, refer to a fool's speech. "Destruction" and "snare" are metaphors for pain and trouble he causes himself. Ruling your speech is important to avoid the fool's destruction (12:13; 13:3; Eccl 10:11-14).
Solomon tried to perfect his son. He knew unguarded speech could ruin his peace, his reputation, or his wealth. In the context, he opposed contentious words that cause fighting (18:6) and talebearing that wounds others (18:8). He warned elsewhere against the snare of cosigning loans (6:1-5). Words can cause life or death, depending on your use (18:21).
Tongues often cause mischief to others; but this proverb shows mischief to the speaker himself. Saul and Herod brought snares on their own souls by foolish words (I Sam 14:24-46; Mark 6:21-29). Gideon whipped the men of Succoth with thorns for their speech, and Elisha cursed 42 children for theirs. The slander of Daniel's peers cost them their own lives, and so did the prepared speeches of Ananias and Sapphira.
Do you grasp the warning? Have you spoken harshly, and then regretted it? Have you committed to do something, and then wished you had not? Have you lied to protect yourself, only to find you had grievously complicated matters? Have you been disrespectful and wished you could get your words back? Sin multiplies with the number of words spoken (10:19). And you will give an account of every idle word (Matt 12:36).
How can you save your life from destruction? Cut your words in half (17:27-28). Listen eagerly; speak reluctantly. Be quick to hear, but slow to speak (Jas 1:19). Say only kind and positive things about others (Eph 4:29). Let your speech be always with grace, and use critical speech only as seasoning (Col 4:6). Replace foolish talking and jesting with giving thanks (Eph 5:4). Never speak evil of those in authority (Deut 27:16; Jude 1:8).
Ask God for help. David prayed, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Ps 141:3). And again, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Ps 19:14).
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