Canter Bridge

The lips of the wise are to be admired both when they speak and as they remain silent.

The Bible’s proverbial wisdom sees the fruit of wise words augmented by its scarcity. More often than not, the wise prefer not to opine. A wise man must frequently be asked to offer an assessment, his default mode being silent observation. A woman of proverbial stature will from time to time be mistaken for an introvert when in fact she has simply mastered self-restraint.

On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.
The wise lay up knowledge,
but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

Here the wise person’s words are a reservoir of discernment over, to be sought out with reverentially. In contrast the fool’s much larger body part—his back—cries out to be beat upon.

Likewise the wise incrementally adds to his storehouse of wisdom by not spending words at the drop of a hat. The fool’s babbling has destructive consequence. The silence of the wise augurs a time when he will have something to give, even in the lean years when wisdom is scarce.