Last week we were introduced to “the fool.” Solomon mentions this character over 60 times throughout the book of Proverbs. We observed the numerous warnings against the fool’s pride and resistance to correction. If we want to develop wise behavior, we must avoid these attitudes. We must humble ourselves and open our hearts to receive instruction.
The heart of a fool will show itself in many different ways. Those who fail to guard their heart from folly will not guard their mouth, eyes, or feet either (Prov 4:23-27). We will observe these expressions of folly throughout the next few weeks. In this article we will discuss the speech of the fool.
“The mouth of fools pours forth foolishness” (Prov 15:2). This imprudence of speech is closely tied to pride. The fool overestimates the value of his own words. “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart” (Prov 18:2). While he despises the instructions of others, he boasts of his own understanding. “In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride” (Prov 14:3). He only views his own speech as worthy of attention.
As a result, the fool is slow to hear and quick to speak. A stark contrast the character God desires of His people (James 1:19). “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (Prov 29:11). He lacks the discretion or self-control to restrain his lips. Whatever is in his heart will not hesitate to come out of his mouth.
If only the fool could keep quiet, no one would know how depraved of wisdom he is. “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive” (Prov 17:28). Unfortunately he doesn’t have the sense to close his mouth. The words of the fool often get him into trouble. “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul” (Prov 18:6-7).
What comes out of the fool’s mouth is no surprise when we consider what is going in, however. “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness” (Prov 15:14). The same foolishness he feeds upon and fills his mind with cannot help but come out of his mouth. The snare of his lips is only an outpouring of the immorality in his heart.
The foolishness of his heart defiles all else that passes his lips. “Like the legs of the lame that hang limp… like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools” (Prov 26:7, 9). Even legitimate wisdom will be perverted in the heart of a fool. Until he conforms his heart to the instruction of the Lord, his mouth will only bring forth wickedness and destruction.
“Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Prov 29:20).