Proverbs 18:4 (GNV)

Passage

The words of a mans mouth are like deepe waters, and the welspring of wisdome is like a flowing riuer.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:2 A foole hath no delite in vnderstanding: but that his heart may be discouered.

Proverbs 18:3 When the wicked commeth, then commeth contempt, and with the vile man reproch.

Proverbs 18:4 The words of a mans mouth are like deepe waters, and the welspring of wisdome is like a flowing riuer.

Proverbs 18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to cause ye righteous to fall in iudgement.

Proverbs 18:6 A fooles lips come with strife, and his mouth calleth for stripes.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "words", "mans", "mouth", "like", "deepe", "waters", "welspring", and "wisdome". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "words" and "mans", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "When the wicked commeth then commeth contempt..." into verse 5's "It is not good to accept the...", so "words" and "mans" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "words" and "mans" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.