What does Proverbs 10:11 mean?

Speech is one of the more noticeable differences between those who honor God—the righteous—and those who reject Him—the wicked. At times, the sheer volume of hateful, evil chatter can be overwhelming. Like an oasis in the desert, the words of a godly person offer refreshment. They encourage and comfort life's weary travelers. Like a "fountain of life," the words of a righteous person are clean and invigorating. They edify those who hear them.

Jesus said, "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63). Followers of Jesus should carefully guard their speech and employ words that are gracious and seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). His followers should shun malice, deceit, and slander (1 Peter 2:1). They should not allow any corrupt talk to come out of their mouths, "but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29).

Unlike the speech of the righteous, the speech of the wicked corrupts. The wicked commit violent acts and use deceptive words to cover their evil deeds (Proverbs 4:14–17; 10:6).