Psalms 31:18 Meaning and Explanation

Lying lips that speak grievous things describe the tongue as an instrument of injustice and harm. The slander that has tormented the psalmist throughout this psalm has come through speech—false accusations, mocking, contempt. To ask that these lips be silenced is to ask that the power to harm through speech be removed. Words have real consequences, and the psalmist seeks divine intervention to stop the flow of damaging falsehood.

The description 'proudly and contemptuously' reveals the attitude behind the slander. The speakers are not merely mistaken but arrogant and contemptuous toward the righteous. This adds an element of moral clarity: the wicked are not innocently confused but deliberately choosing to mock and harm the faithful. Their silencing is thus an act of divine justice, not merely a victory for the speaker but the triumph of truth and righteousness over deliberate falsehood and cruelty.