Proverbs 13:2-3 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
This typical conditional promise and warning deals with the effects of the words we speak with our mouths, including the tone of voice and the expression of the face. If you guard and keep your mouth, then you will see good and keep life. This agrees with the proverbial principle that good, kind, loving words tend to bless and give life, while harsh, mean, cursing words tend toward death.
Believing this promise of life and good fruit reminds us to be aware of what we say and how we say it. Even every idle word will either enhance our life or bring us closer to death. “From the same mouth come blessing or cursing [James 3:10].”
The way to bearing good fruit and keeping life is to say the right things in the right way at the right time. This takes the wisdom that comes from above; it is God’s gift and blessing to those who keep up to date with their repenting and believing. And we have a further promise that we may ask for this kind of wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him [James 1:5].” So pray before you speak, speak kindly, give a blessing, and see the promise unfold. “Keeping one’s mouth” means not shooting it off and expressing the anger inside, but it means praying before speaking and then “eating good.”