Wise Words Proverbs 14 – 20 (selected verses)

Wise Words Introduction

James, the Lord’s brother, warns us of the dangers of the tongue.

Wise Words Introduction James 1:26 (ESV) If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Wise Words Introduction James 3:5–10 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

Wise Words Introduction James 3:5–10 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Wise Words Introduction James 3:5–10 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Wise Words Introduction James probably spent a lot of time in the book of Proverbs. This book teaches us countless lessons about our words. We will organize them by topic – limiting ourselves to verses in Proverbs 14 – 20.

Speak Sensibly

14:3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. 14:7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Speak Sensibly 15:2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Speak Sensibly 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. 16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. 17:7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

Speak Sensibly 18:2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. 18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Speak Sensibly 18:20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Speak Sensibly 20:15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 20:19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Speak Truthfully

14:5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. 14:25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

Speak Truthfully 16:27 A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 16:28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Speak Truthfully 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. 19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Speak Truthfully 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

Speak Graciously

15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 15:4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Speak Graciously 16:21 The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. 16:24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Speak Graciously 17:9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. 17:14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

Speak Graciously 18:8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. 18:19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

Speak Carefully

14:23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Speak Carefully 16:23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. 17:27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Speak Carefully 18:6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. 18:7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Listen

17:10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. 17:28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. 18:13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Listen 18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. 18:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Listen 19:27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. 20:18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

Wise Words In the New Testament

Peter sounds something like James – or the book of Proverbs.

Wise Words In the New Testament 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 3:10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”

Wise Words In the New Testament Jesus reminds us to be mindful of our words when we pray.

Wise Words In the New Testament Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Wise Words In the New Testament Jesus also demands that we pay attention to his words. And afterwards be sure to act upon them.

Wise Words In the New Testament Matthew 7:24 [Jesus said,] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Wise Words In the New Testament Matthew 7:26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 7:27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Wise Words In the New Testament The opening of the Gospel of John gives us insight into the importance of words from God’s point of view.

Wise Words In the New Testament John 1:1–14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Wise Words In the New Testament John 1:1–14 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Wise Words In the New Testament John 1:1–14 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

Wise Words In the New Testament John 1:1–14 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Wise Words In the New Testament John 1:1–14 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Wise Words In the New Testament And what did Jesus do? Matthew 4:23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Wise Words In the New Testament Lastly, consider Paul’s view of his own life. Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Wise Words Conclusions

James warned us that the tongue is a serious problem. If we hope to spare ourselves a lifetime of trouble, we need to know how to use it well.

Wise Words Conclusions Here are some guidelines for us: 1.Speak sensibly. 2.Speak truthfully. 3.Speak graciously. 4.Speak carefully. 5.Listen – don’t speak at all.

Wise Words Conclusions Words are God’s chosen means to pass on his salvation. We heard the good news and believed. May our speech be used for his highest purposes.