Bridges on Proverbs 14:3
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:3
 
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3.  In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
 
How many figures does the wise man employ to shew the destructive evils of the tongue! Here it is a rod (Ezekiel 7:10, 11), a rod of pride. The rod in the mouth is often sharper than the rod in the hand. (Jeremiah 18:18.) Sometimes it strikes against God (Exodus 5:2. Psalm 12:3, 4. 2 Kings 19:10); sometimes it is “the rod of his anger” (Isaiah 10:5) against his people; permitted (Revelation 13:5), yet restrained. (Psalm 125:3.) Always in the end is it the rod for the fool himself. (Ib. 64:8.) Yet when the heart is humbled, and filled with wisdom, the tongue becomes the preservative from imminent dangers (Chapter 12:6), even from the threatened scourge of the rod of pride. (Job 5:21. Psalm 31:20.)
Were this iron rod to rule the earth, who could tolerate the abodes of men? (Psalm 57:4; 120:5.) But adored be the grace, which converts this unruly boasting member of unrighteousness, to be “an instrument of righteousness unto God!” (Romans 6:13.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ezekiel 7:10, 11
10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. 11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them. {theirs: or, their tumultuous persons: Heb. tumult}
 
 
Jeremiah 18:18
18 ¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. {with...: or, for the tongue}
 
 
Exodus 5:2
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
 
Psalm 12:3, 4
3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: {proud: Heb. great}
 
2 Kings 19:10
10 Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
 
 
Isaiah 10:5
5 ¶ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. {O...: or, Woe to the Assyrian: Heb. Asshur} {and: or, though}
 
 
Revelation 13:5
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. {to continue: or, to make war}
 
 
Psalm 125:3
3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. {the wicked: Heb. wickedness}
 
 
Psalm 64:8
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
 
 
Proverbs 12:6
6 ¶ The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
 
 
Job 5:21
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. {from...: or, when the tongue scourgeth}
 
Psalm 31:20
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
 
 
Psalm 57:4
4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
 
Psalm 120:5
5 ¶ Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
 
 
Romans 6:13
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. {instruments: Gr. arms, or, weapons}