See here, 1. A proud fool exposing himself. Where there is pride in the
heart, and no wisdom in the head to suppress it, it commonly shows
itself in the words: In the mouth there is pride, proud boasting, proud
censuring, proud scorning, proud commanding and giving law; this is the
rod, or branch, of pride; the word is used only here and Isa. xi. 1. It
grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart; it is a rod
from that stem. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this
branch, or it is meant of a smiting beating rod, a rod of pride which
strikes others. The proud man with his tongue lays about him and deals
blows at pleasure, but it will in the end be a rod to himself; the
proud man shall come under an ignominious correction by the words of
his own mouth, not cut as a soldier, but caned as a servant; and herein
he will be beaten with his own rod, Ps. lxiv. 8. 2. A humble wise man
saving himself and consulting his own good: The lips of the wise shall
preserve them from doing that mischief to others which proud men do
with their tongues, and from bringing that mischief on themselves which
haughty scorners are often involved in.