The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life. He speaks words which issue in life (in the highest sense) to himself and to others.
But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked - (note, Proverbs 10:6.) Whereas the righteous man's words issue in life, the wicked man's own violence of words issues in silencing his mouth in death (Psalms 107:42). His violence (ordinarily covert) had been as a stagnant "well" 'covered' over (cf. Proverbs 10:10, note), which sent forth its deadly streams in overt words and acts at every opportunity. Now it shall cover his own mouth. It is striking how often Solomon dwells upon sins of the tongue; no member is so hard to control; none more surely indicates the man.