The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked (Proverbs 10:11).

Because I have pale skin, greyish-blue eyes, brownish-blondish hair, and a medium-tall build, I can blend in pretty well on the streets of Amsterdam.  Depending on what I'm wearing, I can come across as a pretty convincing Dutchman, in spite of the blue American blood running through my veins.  It's been this way since Day One of living in the Netherlands, and I've enjoyed this element of camouflage throughout my years on this side of the Pond.

Especially in the early days (though sometimes even still), I liked to play a sort of game in which I would attempt to conceal my American identity for as long as possible.  How far could I get -- in the grocery store, at the restaurant, on the tram -- before my hand would be tipped and my identity would be revealed?  I quickly learned that the less I opened my mouth, the longer I could perpetuate the perception that I was a "Dutchman."  Even when verbal exchange was inevitable, I learned that accent is much harder to detect in the simple utterance of a "Ja" (Yes) or "Nee" (No).  Given enough time, enough words, enough context, however, I'd always get found out.  Even today, after seven years of living in country and learning the language, developing a relatively proficient sense of grammar and vocabulary, I just can't fool a true Dutch person.  It's my mouth.  My accent.  The mouth always gives me away.

The same principles can be applied, not just to situations involving nationality and language, but also to situations involving rigteousness and wickedness, good and evil, integrity and corruption.  The mouth always gives it away.

Appearances can be so misleading and incomplete.  Someone might have the look of someone trustworthy or someone shady, and he might be able to maintain such a vibe for some time, as long as he doesn't have to open his mouth.  The illusion can even be continued, as long as interpersonal connections can be limited to "yes"s and "no"s, superficial and shallow.  But real character is revealed through extended, in-depth interaction.  With more time and a wider range of experiences, the truth always reveals itself... through a person's mouth.  The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.