TheMoptimist

Bible in 365: Day 156

06/12/2012 at 12:32 pm 5 comments

Proverbs 10-12

I definitely feel like all the proverbs about guarding your lips and being careful with your words really jumped out at me today.  This is something I always need to be reminded of, especially if I am upset about something.  Here are the proverbs from today that speak about the importance of how we use words:

• “The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.”  (Proverbs 10:8)
• “Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.” (Proverbs 10:10)
• “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:11)
• “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” (Proverbs 10:12)
• “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.” (Proverbs 10:13)
• “The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.” (Proverbs 10:14)
• “Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18)
• “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” (Proverbs 10:19)  ***This one is definitely my favorite verse for the day.  I must remember this and repeat it in my mind and apply it to my life!
• “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.”  (Proverbs 10:20)
• “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.”  (Proverbs 10:21)
• “From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.” (Proverbs 10:31)
• “The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.” (Proverbs 10:32)
• “With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” (Proverbs 11:9)
• “Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.” (Proverbs 11:11)
• “Those who have no sense deride their neighbors, but those who have understanding hold their tongues.” (Proverbs 11:12)
• “Gossips betray a confidence, but the trustworthy keep a secret.” (Proverbs 11:13)
• “The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.” (Proverbs 12:6)
• “Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.” (Proverbs 12:13)
• “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.” (Proverbs 12:14)
• “An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.” (Proverbs 12:17)
• “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18)
• “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19)
• “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” (Proverbs 12:22)
• “The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.” (Proverbs 12:23)
• “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” (Proverbs 12:25)

I list them all here just to show how important this must be.  Just in these three chapters alone, there are 25 proverbs about our words!

What does all this boil down to?  I think James hit the nail on the head when he wrote, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”  (James 1:19)

If we all just took a little more to time think about what we said before we say it, we would probably be much less likely to lie, gossip, and use hurtful words.  This is a lesson I am constantly working on.  Maybe I should meditate on one of these proverbs each day for the next 25 days (or maybe for the rest of my life). 

Entry filed under: Bible in 365. Tags: Book of Proverbs, Proverbs and Sayings, Using words wisely, wisdom.