16:23

In this proverb, the second line expresses the result of the process in the first line.

23a The heart of a wise man instructs his mouth

23b and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

The overall meaning is that the mind of a wise person directs him to say what is sensible. As a result, his words increase his ability as a teacher and help his students to learn more effectively.

Compare 16:21, which has a similar theme. The words “mouth” and “lips” are both figures of speech. They represent the words that a wise person says.

16:23a

The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth: In Hebrew, this line is more literally “The heart of a wise person causes/guides his mouth to be shrewd/sensible.” Some versions make this information explicit, as it is in Hebrew. For example:

The heart of the wise lends shrewdness to speech (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
From a wise mind comes wise speech (New Living Translation (2004))

Some other versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, leave it implied. You will need to decide whether it is more effective in your language to leave this information implied, as in the Berean Standard Bible, or to make it explicit, as it is in Hebrew.

16:23b

and adds persuasiveness to his lips: For the phrase adds persuasiveness, see the note on the phrase “promotes instruction” in 16:21b, which is identical in the Hebrew.

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