Proverbs 21:23 commentary; Watch your mouth!

23 ¶ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Keep means to guard or to stay. I can keep at home and I can keep (guard) the home. Here are some examples.

Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Habakkuk 2:5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

So, watch your mouth. There are many Proverbs that warn about the tongue and what comes out of the mouth. Such as;

Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Watch what you say and to whom you say it. Young people, unloading your cares and worries to a person is a great way to bond with them. So be careful who you constantly reveal your innermost thoughts, concerns, and joys to because you will develop a bond with that person that you might be totally unaware of until it is strong. Just choose someone to share your heart’s thoughts with that loves the Lord, is daily in His Bible, and who has the fruit of the Spirit of God shining out of them. All in all it is better to simply confide in Christ, but we are flesh and we often feel good unburdening our cares to another person. Just understand how you’re wired and what the results of that unloading and unburdening might be; deep friendship or even romantic love.

The Proverb makes it clear that if you guard your mouth, you’ll avoid a lot of trouble. Here’s what James had to say to it in his letter to the Jewish Christians, early in the history of the church and also for during the Tribulation.

James 3:1 ¶ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Just remember, you can’t unsay things you’ve said. Beware of your words, those things that proceed out of your mouth and lips. I can say it no better than the Holy Spirit just did through James, now can I? Notice in the Proverb how tongue and mouth are synonyms by their placement. This kind of placement can put to words as meaning the same thing or as two things in a like class of things. Read the context carefully.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

If you keep these things in mind you’ll not likely get yourself in trouble with your mouth.