News Item 111. Mishlei 14-23 (Effort)

new segment has been posted to the Mishlei section today (Tuesday, January 27.) This segment consists of one proverb in verse 14:23.  

This proverb compares the results of activity involving the expenditure of effort with passive activity. If effort is required and if the purpose is good, one can be assured of some gain or useful result. The more effort that is invested, the greater is the benefit. 
In comparing this with the results of passive activity, the proverb uses idle conversation as an example. Such conversation is identified as “words of the lips” to imply that these words involve a minimum of thought. Time spent on such words results in a loss instead of a benefit. In fact, the more idle words one speaks, the greater is the potential harm.