Bonaventure, on Eccl 10:12

“The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.”

“He gave above a remedy against the malice of a prelate; here he gives a remedy against the foolishness of a prelate, showing that a foolish prelate is not to be promoted, but rather is worthy of ruin: first, on account of the defect of discreet speech; second, on account of the defect of provident consideration; third, on account of the defect of fruitful action. On account of the defect of discreet speech, the fool casts himself down, just as by antithesis the wise man exalts himself. Therefore he says: The words of a wise man's mouth are grace, because in them through discretion he acquires grace: Sirach 20: "A wise man makes himself lovable by his words"; but on the contrary: The lips of a fool will cast him down, that is, the words that proceed from the lips of a fool: Proverbs 18: "The mouth of a fool is his destruction, and his lips are the ruin of his soul." Spiritually here by the wise man we understand Christ, by the foolish man the antichrist. The words of the mouth of the wise man are grace, because the words of Christ are gracious: the Psalm: "Grace is poured forth on your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever"; and Luke 2: "All who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers"; and others said, John 7: "Never has a man spoken thus." On the contrary, the fool is the antichrist, of whom it is said in the Psalm: "The fool has said in his heart: There is no God." His lips will cast him down, because on account of the malice of his teaching he will be plunged into the deep, Job 18: "The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.