If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
Here is, I. An enumeration of four things which are majestic and stately in their going, which look great: - 1. A lion, the king of beasts, because strongest among beasts. Among beasts it is strength that gives the pre-eminence, but it is a pity that it should do so among men, whose wisdom is their honour, not their strength and force.
Commenting on Proverbs 30:29-33
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself,.... Against a king, against whom there is no rising up; by speaking evil of him, or rebelling against him; which is acting a foolish part, since it brings a man into troubles and difficulties inextricable; or by self-commendation, which is the height of folly, and the fruit of pride; or carried it in such a haughty...
As none can hope, successfully, to resist such a king, suppress even the thought of an attempt. lay . . . hand upon thy mouth--"lay" is well supplied (Jdg 18:19; Job 29:9; Job 40:4).