John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride , etc.] A proud tongue, or a tongue speaking proud and haughty things; with which foolish or wicked men smite others and wound and hurt their reputation and credit, and in the issue hurt themselves also; their tongue is not only a rod to others, but a scourge to themselves, or is the cause of evil coming upon them; such was the tongue of Pharaoh, as Jarchi on the place observes, ( Exodus 5:2); and of those the psalmist speaks of, ( Psalm 73:9); and particularly of antichrist, whose mouth is opened in blasphemies against God, and his tabernacle, and his saints, ( Revelation 13:5,6); but the lips of the wise shall preserve them ; from speaking such proud and haughty things against God and men; or from being hurt by the tongues of men or their own; yea, what coaxes out of their mouth is confounding and destructive to their enemies, ( Revelation 11:5).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3 - Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The pruden words of wise men get them out of difficulties.
Original Hebrew בפי6310 אויל191 חטר2415 גאוה1346 ושׂפתי8193 חכמים2450 תשׁמורם׃8104
