What does Proverbs 18:7 mean?

In this verse Solomon notes that a fool's mouth leads to his destruction and his lips ensnare his soul. Although a fool intends to injure others by speaking perversely, he hurts himself. His words boomerang. Psalm 7:14–16 aptly describes what happens to the wicked person whose language is intended to hurt others. The passage states: "Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends."

A fool uses offensive language to pick a fight, and he is sure to find it. However, he doesn't anticipate the serious harm his words bring upon him. Unruly youths foolishly insulted the prophet Elisha, and their words triggered Elisha's righteous indignation. He responded by pronouncing a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Immediately, two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths (2 Kings 2:23–24).