“Lingua sapientium ornat scientiam ; os fatuorum ebullit stultitiam.”
“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. poureth: Heb. belcheth, or, bubbleth”
“The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.”
“The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.”
“The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.”
Knowledge. It requires to be proposed in a proper manner.
This is to the same purport with v. 2, and shows what a blessing a wise man is and what a burden a fool is to those about him. Only here observe further, 1. That we then use knowledge aright when we disperse it, not confine it to a few of our intimates, and grudge it to others who would make as good use of it, but give a portion of this spiritual alms to seven and also to eight, not only be communicative, but diffusive, of this good, with humility and prudence. We must take pains to spread and propagate useful knowledge, must teach some that they may teach others, and so it is dispersed. 2. That it is not only a fault to pour out foolishness, but it is a shame not to disperse knowledge, at least not to drop some wise word or other: The heart of the foolish does not so; it has nothing to disperse that is good, or, if it had, has neither skill nor will to do good with it and therefore is little worth.