SPEAK WITH WISDOM

Proverbs 15:1-17 / Keywords 15:2

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

 

15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,

    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,

    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,

    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life,

    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,

    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked,

    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;

    the one who hates correction will die.

11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the Lord—

    how much more do human hearts!

12 Mockers resent correction,

    so they avoid the wise.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,

    but heartache crushes the spirit.

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,

    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,

    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord

    than great wealth with turmoil.

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love

    than a fattened calf with hatred.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon

1. Our words can have a powerful effect on others, for better or for worse.Words spoken gently can turn away wrath, but one harsh word can stir up anger (1). Therefore, the author of Proverbs encourages us to shape our words with wisdom. A wise person’s speech makes seeking knowledge and wisdom attractive to others (2a). Wisdom directs a person to speak soothing words which can be a tree of life to a suffering person (4a).

 

2. In contrast, fools pour out folly with their words (2b) and even feed on that folly (14b). Their perverse words can crush a person (4b). In fact, the New Testament compares the tongue to a destructive fire to emphasize its potential for evil (Ja 3:6). Are your words full of wisdom that bring life to others - or do your words tear others down?

 

3. What we say comes from our hearts (Mt 15:18). The heart of a fool is not pright. But the heart of the wise is discerning (14a). A heart that is wise is a heart that fears the LORD and knows that love is better than wealth (16,17). Let us pray for a heart that is wise so that the words we speak may be full of Godly wisdom and life.

 

Prayer Father, please forgive my sins of speaking foolishness and hurting others with my words. Change my heart so that I may speak wisdom.

One Word A wise tongue