Build up or Tear Down

(Pro 12:4 KJV) A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

“Rottenness” (7538) of “bones” (6106) is a graphic picture.  I think of cancer or of putrid meat.  The phrase is used twice, both in Proverbs.  Here it is a bad-news wife.  The other,

    (Pro 14:30 KJV) A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

speaks of our emotions being out of control. 

Most men would not knowingly marry someone who would always be shaming them.  For that matter, neither would women choose such a spouse.  It can obviously work both ways.  It is obviously something we should avoid causing.

So?  We can cause rotten bones by our actions or our words.  It might be something for each of us to apply a self examination time to.